Boris Johnson urges world leaders to unite against COVID-19.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said Saturday that coronavirus pandemic has frayed bonds between nations, and urged world leers to unite against “common foe” of COVID-19.

Johnson, who me remarks in a prerecorded speech to United Nations General Assembly, said that, nine months into pandemic, “ very tion of international community looks tattered.”

“Never again must we w 193 separate campaigns against same enemy," he said.

Johnson set out a plan for preventing ar global pandemic, including a network of zootic research labs around world to identify dangerous pathogens before y leap from animals to humans.

Johnson — who contracted COVID-19 in spring and spent three nights in intensive care -- also called for countries to share data to create a global early-warning system for disease outbreaks, and urged countries to stop slapping export controls on essential goods, as many have done during pandemic.

Johnson also committed 500 million pounds ($636 million) through global COVAX vaccine-procurement pool to help 92 of world’s poorest countries obtain a coronavirus vaccine, should one become available.

He anunced that U.K. is boosting its funding for World Health Organization by 30%, to 340 million pounds ($432 million) over next four years.

Johnson is seeking to counter impression that Britain is retreating from world st or becoming more protectionist in wake of its departure from European Union. U.K. left bloc’s political institutions in January and will make an ecomic break when a transition period ends on Dec. 31.

He has also struck a more measured tone than in last year’s speech to U.N. garing, a rambling dress about perils and promise of techlogy that mentioned “terrifying limbless chickens,” “pink-eyed Terminators from future” and fridges that beep for more cheese.

Im Credits: AP