The Covid-19 coronavirus pandemic is an unparalleled crisis that nations can only overcome through cooperation and responsible behaviour, Italy's premier Conte told an online meeting of the World Health Organisation's key decision-making body on Tuesday.
"This 73rd World Health Assembly comes at a crucial time, in the midst of our struggle against the threat of the Covid-19 pandemic, Conte said.
"We are experiencing an unprecedented global crisis, a crisis that knows no borders and spares no region: we can only overcome it together, through solidarity, cooperation and mutual responsibility," said Conte.
Italy, one of the countries worst-hit by the coronavirus, has since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, worked for stronger global leadership and collaboration to defeat the highly contagious respiratory disease, Conte said.
The pandemic had "changed our lives in ways that were unimaginable a few months ago," he said.
Solidarity among countries is vital "to manage the emergency and accelerate long-term sustainable science-led solutions, research and medicine," Conte underlined.
The world has shown great "resilience" during the Covid-19 pandemic, but there are lessons to learn, notably "rapid alarm mechanisms, the exchange of information and identification of best practices to prepare the international community for a pandemic," Conte said.
"Our struggle against Covid-19 is far from over," Conte concluded.
The two-day WHA meeting has been dedicated almost entirely to strengthening global coordination against the Covid-19 pandemic, which has infected more than 4.8 million people and killed over 321,400 people.
