UK and France seek greater cooperation on vaccines, climate

London, May 4 (EFE).- The top diplomats of the United Kingdom and France met here Tuesday on the sidelines of the G7 foreign ministers conference for talks on ways to enhance bilateral cooperation in areas such as climate chance and boosting the supply of Covid-19 vaccines.

“The Foreign Secretary (Dominic Raab) and Minister (Jean-Yves) Le Drian discussed the importance of cooperation ahead of COP26, particularly on international climate finance,” the UK Foreign Office said in a statement.

COP26, the 26th UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties, is scheduled for Nov. 1-12 in Glasgow, Scotland.

Raab and Le Drian also stressed the importance of agreeing on “ambitious action” to revive the Global Partnership for Education, a multilateral initiative aimed at improving education in developing countries.

The two men likewise concurred on the “need to work closely” to “tackle illegal migration” across the English Channel, according to the statement.

The Foreign Office stressed that Raab and Le Drian “agreed on the strength of the UK-French partnership” four months after the UK completed its exit from the European Union.

The foreign and development ministers of the G7 – the United States, UK, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and Canada – are in London for their first face-to-face meeting since before the Covid-19 pandemic.

Also present are senior officials of the European Union, a regular participant in G7 summits and ministerial meetings.

On this occasion, the G7 has invited representatives of India, Australia, South Arica and South Korea to take part in parallel events. EFE gx/ta/dr