The Group of 7 has vowed to boost supplies of COVID-19 vaccines to the developing world and jointly respond to China's non-market oriented policies.

In a statement issued after a virtual meeting, G7 members pledged to increase their contribution to the WHO-led Covax vaccine-sharing initiative to seven-point-five billion dollars so that vaccines can reach poorer countries.

The U.S. has pledged four billion dollars in aid while Germany promised an additional one-point-five billion euros and the European Union also doubled its support to one billion euros.

But the Associated Press reported the G7 leaders were unwilling to say exactly how many vaccines they were willing to share with the developing world, or when, due to pressure over vaccination campaigns at home.

In opening remarks at the virtual summit, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said COVID-19 is a global pandemic and it’s no use one country being far ahead of another.

The Group of 7 also agreed to continue stimulus measures to ease the economic fallout from the pandemic and to jointly respond to non-market policies and practices, in reference to China. 

The G7 will hold a face-to-face meeting in the UK in June.