On May 20, 2025, the World Health Assembly (WHA), the highest decision-making body of the World Health Organization (WHO), adopted a global pandemic agreement aimed at overhauling the current systems for pandemic surveillance, prevention, and response. The agreement proposes the creation of new platforms to promote research, equitable sharing, and fair distribution of pandemic-related products. It also seeks to strengthen global public health governance, with a particular focus on addressing fairness and equity in international health development. A key component of the agreement is the planned development of a Pathogen Access and Benefit Sharing (PABS) system, which will be negotiated by an intergovernmental working group and considered for adoption at the next WHA session.
China played an active role in the negotiation process, promoting multilateralism, solidarity, and cooperation. The Chinese delegation emphasized its efforts in improving global health governance and contributing technical input based on scientific principles. Alongside countries like Brazil, Indonesia, and Bangladesh, China also supported the concerns of developing nations through the Group for Equity, advocating for fair access to health resources. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus described the agreement as one of the most significant achievements in the organization’s history, enhancing global capacity to prepare for and respond to future pandemics. The agreement follows a process launched in November 2021 and marks the outcome of more than three years of intensive negotiations, with the final draft being submitted for adoption in April 2025.
Credit : CGTN
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