Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- On the sidelines of the 75th session of the UN General Assembly, a meeting of the Alliance for Multilateralism was held under the chairmanship of the Foreign Ministers of Germany and France.

It was attended by the foreign ministers of 60 countries. The main topic of the meeting was the strengthening of multilateral cooperation in the fight against COVID-19.

The Alliance for Multilateralism is an informal alliance formed in 2019 at the initiative of the German and French Foreign Ministers. The Alliance aims to renew global commitments based on international rules and multilateralism.

Ministers stressed their determination to contribute to a “better” world and the development of multilateral institutions in the aftermath of the crisis and focused on the following topics.

1. Healthcare. Participants reaffirmed their commitment to a multilateral health architecture, in particular: (a) strengthening WHO as the lead and coordinating agency for global health; b) establishing transparent cooperation in the field of immunization; c) Ensuring global access to vaccines, diagnostics and treatment through the Accelerating Access to Response to COVID-19 Initiative (ACT).

2. Climate change. Climate security is one of the top issues on the agenda, and participants fully support the call for coordination, information sharing and regular reporting on climate-related risks and challenges.

3. Digital technologies. Discussing the need to improve digital governance during the COVID-19 crisis, ministers stressed the importance of reducing inequalities in digital access and fighting infodemia - the flood of rumors, false or deliberately distorted information about the pandemic.

4. Gender equality. Participants highlighted the urgent need to mobilize the international community to advance gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls 25 years after the adoption of the Beijing Platform for Action.

In general, the activities of the Alliance for Multilateralism call for adherence to the principle of multilateralism, as well as for collective action in the face of global problems.