Seoul: President Lee Jae Myung met with Bill Gates, the chair of the Gates Foundation, on Thursday to discuss ways to expand cooperation in global health initiatives, the presidential office announced. During the meeting, Lee praised Gates' efforts in public health and climate change, expressing a commitment to seek avenues for expanding collaboration with the foundation's global initiatives.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Gates acknowledged the potential role South Korea could play in global health initiatives through "innovative products" in vaccines and diagnostic equipment, alongside other contributions. He highlighted the impressive growth in Korea's bioscience sector, citing research at the International Vaccine Institute and collaborations with companies such as SD Biosensor, EuBiologics, SK bioscience, and LG.
Gates also discussed the successes of the Gavi vaccine alliance and the Global Fund in combating diseases like HIV, malaria, and tuberculosis. He expressed hope for South Korea's increased involvement in these global health efforts. Gates, who co-founded Microsoft, was in South Korea to explore cooperation with Korean pharmaceutical companies on vaccine supply initiatives aimed at supporting low-income countries.