India conducts a large amount of trade with its geographic neighbors. For all ofthe reasons stated above, the pandemic has slashed regional trade andnegatively affected the revenue of all countries involved. It is therefore in India'sbest interest to ensure a swift recovery from the pandemic. Through this, India aswell as its partners at RCEP will reap the rewards of increased trade, improvedeconomies, and a healthier, happier populace.III. COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution: Challenges and OpportunitiesA number of vaccines designed to inoculate against COVID-19 have passedclinical trials and are now being distributed worldwide. The need to quicklyvaccinate the majority of the global population represents a logisticalchallenge unlike any that have come before, and one that could be greatlyexpedited through multilateral cooperation. At the core of this challenge is theneed to store vaccines in a cold environment in order to maintain effectiveness.The Comirnaty vaccine developed by Pfizer-BioNTech must be stored at -70degrees Celsius; the vaccine developed by American pharmaceuticalcompany Moderna will quickly become ineffective if exposed to temperaturesgreater than -20 Celsius. Vaccines developed by RCEP members, such asChina's CoronaVac or India's Covaxin, remain effective at regular refrigeratortemperatures of around four degrees Celsius.Because these vaccines require cold temperatures to maintain effectiveness, itis imperative that regional supply chains be equipped to maintain vaccineviability throughout storage, transportation, and administration. This "cold-chaindistribution" can be challenging for nations that lack the required logisticalinfrastructure, such as specialized refrigerator trucks and ultracold storagefacilities. Trade policies can be crafted that allow for regional cooperation onthe construction of such facilities and the distribution of vaccines. Such policiescould help by improving communication between border agents and healthregulatory authorities, eliminating import fees and tariffs, and setting terms forcross-border refrigerator truck usage to assist with 'last-mile' vaccine delivery.5This last point is particularly important, given that many RCEP partners host largerural populations. Indeed, nations such as Myanmar, Laos, and Cambodia scorelow on the Logistics Performance Index with scores of 2.3, 2.58, and 2.7,respectively. These nations may require additional help from larger partners tohouse and distribute vaccines.For the reasons stated above, India will support the creation of acomprehensive policy to ensure all RCEP members have the resourcesnecessary to distribute the COVID-19 vaccine. India is in a strong position tosupply the needed doses, being one of the world's largest vaccine producers.Additionally, India's prior vaccination campaigns, particularly that againstmeasles rubella in 2017, have taught it important lessons about distributingvaccines in far-flung and geographically problematic regions. It would behappy to assist its partner countries in navigating similarly challengingcircumstances. Finally, India's domestically-produced vaccines can bemaintained at a higher temperature than most, making them easier todistribute.It is only by acting as a unified body that India and its honorable partners canre-ignite the economic activity that has until now been suppressed by thepandemic. India does not wish for such a policy to come with strings attached;in particular, it is not interested in opening its borders to additional Chineseimports. By working together in a way that only they can, there is no reason thatthe members of this organization cannot reach an agreement that is beneficialfor all.IV. ConclusionIndia reiterates its gratitude to its partners within this organization for carefully Below is the sample of a position paper that will serve as your guide in creatingyour own. The country and topic presented in this sample position paper havebeen selected to give students an example of a hypothetical RegionalComprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) member-state and topic.Sample Position PaperCountry: IndiaTopic: COVID-19 Vaccine DistributionIndia, being one of the world's largest vaccine producers, is in a strong positionto supply the needed doses. India will support the creation of a comprehensivepolicy to ensure all RCEP members have the resources necessary to distributethe COVID-19 vaccine.I. IntroductionThe sovereign Republic of India thanks its partners within the RegionalComprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) for their continuing commitmentto free trade in the East Asia Pacific (EAP) region through which all membersmay benefit. Though this partnership is a newcomer to the global stage, recentevents have created ideal conditions for RCEP partners to benefit greatly fromtheir membership. Paramount among these is the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic,which has killed millions and damaged the global economy in a way rarely seenbefore. India is grateful that its RCEP partners here today will consider thefollowing proposal on COVID-19 vaccine distribution, and hopes that anagreement satisfactory to all parties may be reached to alleviate the sufferingof millions.II. The Effects of the COVID-19 PandemicSince its discovery in late 2019, Coronavirus disease 2019 (hereafter known asCOVID-19) has triggered an ongoing pandemic that has killed millions andresulted in the worst global economic crisis in nearly a century. To date, over100,000,000 people have fallen ill with the disease and over 2,000,000 have died.To alleviate the spread of the virus, most countries have implemented varyingdegrees of economic lockdowns, pushing millions out of work and forcing manymore to adapt to a 'new normal' of at-home living.This has had a drastic effect on the global economy. The International MonetaryFund estimates that global GDP shrunk by 4.4% in 2020, the worst contractionsince the Great Depression of the 1930s.2 On paper, the EAP region escapedmuch of this contraction, growing by .9%. However, a closer look reveals thatthis growth was fueled entirely by China, which grew by 2% while the rest of theregion contracted by 3.5%.3 According to a report published by the World Bank,this contraction has the potential to reduce EAP regional growth over the nextdecade by 1% per year.4In terms of its effect on human life, the pandemic has been no kinder. Theamount of people living in poverty in the EAP grew by an estimated 38 million in2020, fueled by lost earnings and reduced spending in hard-hit countries. Thecollapse of international tourism has had an outsized impact in the EAP, wheremany countries have cultivated reputations as tourist hotspots. In India, tourismaccounts for a full 10% of GDP, which has been lost to the pandemic.India conducts a large amount of trade with its geographic neighbors. For all ofthe reasons stated above, the pandemic has slashed regional trade andnegatively affected the revenue of all countries involved. It is therefore in India'sbest interest to ensure a swift recovery from the pandemic. Through this, India asDorn will

Question

India conducts a large amount of trade with its geographic neighbors. For all ofthe reasons stated above, the pandemic has slashed regional trade andnegatively affected the revenue of all countries involved. It is therefore in India'sbest interest to ensure a swift recovery from the pandemic. Through this, India aswell as its partners at RCEP will reap the rewards of increased trade, improvedeconomies, and a healthier, happier populace.III. COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution: Challenges and OpportunitiesA number of vaccines designed to inoculate against COVID-19 have passedclinical trials and are now being distributed worldwide. The need to quicklyvaccinate the majority of the global population represents a logisticalchallenge unlike any that have come before, and one that could be greatlyexpedited through multilateral cooperation. At the core of this challenge is theneed to store vaccines in a cold environment in order to maintain effectiveness.The Comirnaty vaccine developed by Pfizer-BioNTech must be stored at -70degrees Celsius; the vaccine developed by American pharmaceuticalcompany Moderna will quickly become ineffective if exposed to temperaturesgreater than -20 Celsius. Vaccines developed by RCEP members, such asChina's CoronaVac or India's Covaxin, remain effective at regular refrigeratortemperatures of around four degrees Celsius.Because these vaccines require cold temperatures to maintain effectiveness, itis imperative that regional supply chains be equipped to maintain vaccineviability throughout storage, transportation, and administration. This &#34;cold-chaindistribution&#34; can be challenging for nations that lack the required logisticalinfrastructure, such as specialized refrigerator trucks and ultracold storagefacilities. Trade policies can be crafted that allow for regional cooperation onthe construction of such facilities and the distribution of vaccines. Such policiescould help by improving communication between border agents and healthregulatory authorities, eliminating import fees and tariffs, and setting terms forcross-border refrigerator truck usage to assist with 'last-mile' vaccine delivery.5This last point is particularly important, given that many RCEP partners host largerural populations. Indeed, nations such as Myanmar, Laos, and Cambodia scorelow on the Logistics Performance Index with scores of 2.3, 2.58, and 2.7,respectively. These nations may require additional help from larger partners tohouse and distribute vaccines.For the reasons stated above, India will support the creation of acomprehensive policy to ensure all RCEP members have the resourcesnecessary to distribute the COVID-19 vaccine. India is in a strong position tosupply the needed doses, being one of the world's largest vaccine producers.Additionally, India's prior vaccination campaigns, particularly that againstmeasles rubella in 2017, have taught it important lessons about distributingvaccines in far-flung and geographically problematic regions. It would behappy to assist its partner countries in navigating similarly challengingcircumstances. Finally, India's domestically-produced vaccines can bemaintained at a higher temperature than most, making them easier todistribute.It is only by acting as a unified body that India and its honorable partners canre-ignite the economic activity that has until now been suppressed by thepandemic. India does not wish for such a policy to come with strings attached;in particular, it is not interested in opening its borders to additional Chineseimports. By working together in a way that only they can, there is no reason thatthe members of this organization cannot reach an agreement that is beneficialfor all.IV. ConclusionIndia reiterates its gratitude to its partners within this organization for carefully Below is the sample of a position paper that will serve as your guide in creatingyour own. The country and topic presented in this sample position paper havebeen selected to give students an example of a hypothetical RegionalComprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) member-state and topic.Sample Position PaperCountry: IndiaTopic: COVID-19 Vaccine DistributionIndia, being one of the world's largest vaccine producers, is in a strong positionto supply the needed doses. India will support the creation of a comprehensivepolicy to ensure all RCEP members have the resources necessary to distributethe COVID-19 vaccine.I. IntroductionThe sovereign Republic of India thanks its partners within the RegionalComprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) for their continuing commitmentto free trade in the East Asia Pacific (EAP) region through which all membersmay benefit. Though this partnership is a newcomer to the global stage, recentevents have created ideal conditions for RCEP partners to benefit greatly fromtheir membership. Paramount among these is the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic,which has killed millions and damaged the global economy in a way rarely seenbefore. India is grateful that its RCEP partners here today will consider thefollowing proposal on COVID-19 vaccine distribution, and hopes that anagreement satisfactory to all parties may be reached to alleviate the sufferingof millions.II. The Effects of the COVID-19 PandemicSince its discovery in late 2019, Coronavirus disease 2019 (hereafter known asCOVID-19) has triggered an ongoing pandemic that has killed millions andresulted in the worst global economic crisis in nearly a century. To date, over100,000,000 people have fallen ill with the disease and over 2,000,000 have died.To alleviate the spread of the virus, most countries have implemented varyingdegrees of economic lockdowns, pushing millions out of work and forcing manymore to adapt to a 'new normal' of at-home living.This has had a drastic effect on the global economy. The International MonetaryFund estimates that global GDP shrunk by 4.4% in 2020, the worst contractionsince the Great Depression of the 1930s.2 On paper, the EAP region escapedmuch of this contraction, growing by .9%. However, a closer look reveals thatthis growth was fueled entirely by China, which grew by 2% while the rest of theregion contracted by 3.5%.3 According to a report published by the World Bank,this contraction has the potential to reduce EAP regional growth over the nextdecade by 1% per year.4In terms of its effect on human life, the pandemic has been no kinder. Theamount of people living in poverty in the EAP grew by an estimated 38 million in2020, fueled by lost earnings and reduced spending in hard-hit countries. Thecollapse of international tourism has had an outsized impact in the EAP, wheremany countries have cultivated reputations as tourist hotspots. In India, tourismaccounts for a full 10% of GDP, which has been lost to the pandemic.India conducts a large amount of trade with its geographic neighbors. For all ofthe reasons stated above, the pandemic has slashed regional trade andnegatively affected the revenue of all countries involved. It is therefore in India'sbest interest to ensure a swift recovery from the pandemic. Through this, India asDorn will

Accepted Answer

Summary of the topic ;
On January 16, 2021, free vaccination against COVID-19 began in India. The…