Gates proposes partnership with S. Korea on vaccine development

SEOUL, Feb. 2 (Yonhap) -- Bill Gates, co-founder of Microsoft, proposed a joint
project with South Korea to support vaccine research and development during his
meeting with South Korean President Lee Myung-bak last week in Davos,
Switzerland, Lee's aides said Tuesday.
Lee and Gates, who now leads the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, "discussed ways
to jointly assist the International Vaccine Institute (IVI)" when they met in
Davos last Friday on the sidelines of the annual session of the World Economic
Forum, according to an aide.
The Seoul-based IVI was established at the initiative of the United Nations
Development Program for the research, development, and production of vaccines
against infections such as cholera and typhoid fever that are commonly found in
poor and developing nations.
Kim Sang-hyup, presidential secretary for future vision, quoted Gates as saying
at the meeting that in order to help poverty-stricken nations, one must first
address the basic problem of health and food.
Gates then said his charity foundation wants to team up with South Korea to
support vaccine research and development led by the IVI.
Lee replied, "It is a great idea," according to the secretary.
The official added that the South Korean government and the foundation will map
out a concrete plan for the joint project through working-level consultations.
Gates has donated more than US$100 million to the IVI so far, including $11.9
million offered during his trip to Seoul in 2008, an IVI official said.
lcd@yna.co.kr
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