(LEAD) Yoon, Bill Gates discuss vaccine development, cooperation

Politics 19:23 August 16, 2022

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SEOUL, Aug. 16 (Yonhap) -- President Yoon Suk-yeol met with Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates on Tuesday and discussed cooperation on vaccine development and other health issues.

During the meeting at the presidential office, Yoon praised Gates for his contributions to modern industrial technology and infrastructure and for his efforts to increase access to vaccines and treatments in developing countries.

He also thanked Gates, who co-chairs the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, for helping South Korea's SK Bioscience Co. develop the country's first homegrown COVID-19 vaccine in June.

"On behalf of the government of the Republic of Korea, I too would like to establish substantive cooperative relations with your foundation so that our country can contribute to promoting the health of the world's citizens while continuing to build advanced bio health technologies," he said.

President Yoon Suk-yeol (R) poses for a photo with Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates at the presidential office in Seoul on Aug. 16, 2022. (Pool photo) (Yonhap)

Gates said South Korea is a "strong match" with the goals of his foundation, both in terms of its growing aid budget and its development of new capabilities through universities, non-profits and companies.

"There's so much capability in Korea," he said, adding that he hopes the two sides can do more together.

"I've been very pleased to see the priority you put on biological innovation," he told Yoon. "The opportunity to both create good jobs and to improve health not just in the rich countries but also the developing countries is very, very exciting."

Meanwhile, the government and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation signed a memorandum of understanding to expand international health partnerships and enhance biotechnology manpower in low- and middle-income countries.

Under the arrangement, they will also jointly develop vaccines, diagnostic devices, and treatment for infectious diseases and work together to reduce global health inequality, the government said.

The MOU was signed by Gates, Foreign Minister Park Jin and Vice Health Minister Lee Ki-il.

hague@yna.co.kr
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