March 27, 2020 - Ottawa, Ontario - Global Affairs Canada

The Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Foreign Affairs, organized a call with his counterparts from countries affected by COVID-19, including Australia, Brazil, Germany, Italy, Morocco, Peru, Singapore, Turkey and the United Kingdom. The EU’s High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy also joined the call.

Together, they reiterated the importance of providing consular assistance to their citizens and the need to safely return travellers home from abroad, including those aboard cruise ships, in the context of increased air travel restrictions and limited commercial flight options.

They also stressed the importance of maintaining the flow of essential goods and supplies and the need to preserve maritime routes and air bridges.

Lastly, they underscored the priority of vaccine research and development as well as the need to support developing countries and vulnerable health-care systems as the COVID-19 crisis continues to evolve around the world.