Macron Calls for Upholding Multilateralism in Global Health Governance

Paris (ANTARA) - French President Emmanuel Macron, at the One Health High-Level Conference in Lyon on Tuesday (7/4), called for upholding multilateralism in global health governance as the international order is shaken.

“Today is an opportunity to see the world as it is. A world experiencing crises. A world plagued by war … the various challenges facing global health make coordination and cooperation more necessary than ever,” Macron stated during a session at the summit.

He added that amid a turbulent international environment, with some parties seeking to question multilateralism in health, France will stand alongside the World Health Organization (WHO) and all present international organisations.

According to Macron, the summit helps advance several concrete initiatives, including the launch of an international pact aimed at preserving antibiotic effectiveness, and the integration of health issues into climate negotiations, national contributions, and countries’ adaptation plans. These efforts align with the Belem Health Action Plan adopted at the 30th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP30) in Belem, a city in the Amazon region of Brazil.

The three-day summit brings together heads of state and government from around the world, representatives of relevant international and regional organisations, scientists, as well as representatives from the private sector, development banks, and youth groups. The summit aims to accelerate the implementation of the One Health approach, a long-standing and widely accepted joint concept that recognises the close interconnection between human, animal, and ecosystem health.