SINGAPORE - Singaporean Prime Minister Lawrence Wong on Tuesday called for international coordination to address ongoing global health risks in a video statement delivered at the 78th World Health Assembly (WHA).

"The international system is under severe strain. The COVID-19 pandemic is behind us, but the risk to global health persists, and the need for coordinated action has never been greater," he said.

"A disease anywhere can become a threat everywhere. Viruses know no borders," he added, adding that "the only way forward" is to tackle global health challenges together.

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Wong highlighted the significance of the historic global pandemic agreement among World Health Organization (WHO) member states reached recently.

In November 2021, a special session of the WHA established an intergovernmental negotiating body tasked with drafting a pandemic agreement under the WHO framework to strengthen global preparedness, prevention, and response capacities.

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On April 16 this year, the WHO announced that, following more than three years of intensive negotiations, member states had reached a consensus on the draft text of the agreement, which has since been submitted for consideration at the 78th session.

The development shows that "international cooperation remains possible in these uncertain times," Wong said, calling it "an encouraging development both for global health and for multilateralism."

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"It reminds us of what we can achieve as an international community when countries come together to find common ground and forge shared solutions," he added.

Wong reaffirmed Singapore's commitment to an open, stable, and rules-based multilateral system, and said the country will continue to do its part for global health.