Remarks as Prepared for Delivery by First Lady Jill Biden at the 2024 Doha Forum

Doha, Qatar Good morning. Your Highness: It is an honor to be here with you. I have been overwhelmed by the generosity and warm welcome you and the people of Qatar have shown me on my visit. On behalf of my husband, President Biden, thank you for your leadership as Qatar continues to play a vital role in this region-and the world. And I’m glad to be with so many heads of state and leaders from across the globe here in Doha. Yesterday, I visited the Qatar Foundation, which has a magnificent view of Education City. Looking out at all of those world-renowned learning institutions, I thought of the incredible minds, cultures, and ideas coming together. I appreciate Her Highness Sheikha Moza’s leadership in an area we both deeply care about: education. As First Lady, I continue to teach writing at a community college, and in my classes, we talk about how stories shape our world. The stories we tell can divide us. They can isolate us, and make us fearful. But stories can also help us feel more connected to one another and inspire us to join hands in creating a better future. That’s the story unfolding on the campus of Weill Cornell Medicine here in Qatar. Innovation through cooperation. Yesterday, I met a medical student who is studying why the risk of ovarian cancer goes up with a particular gene mutation. Another student is designing a surgical device that can clean the lens of a camera during an operation-without removing it from the patient’s body. That will make surgeries more precise. It’s promising work. But what fills me with even more hope is meeting the people who are powering those discoveries. Students from Qatar-and countries from all around the world-at an American academic institution, located here in Doha, uncovering health breakthroughs that have the potential to improve people’s lives in this region and globally. This year’s Doha Forum is focused on the “innovation imperative.” I believe the first imperative for innovation is cooperation-people of all backgrounds and expertise working side by side, creating something better than we ever could alone. As First Lady of the United States, I’ve had the opportunity to travel the world. From Japan to Ecuador. From Namibia to Ukraine. Everywhere I go, I’m reminded that our differences are precious-and our similarities infinite. Still, on those trips, there have been some who ask me why: Why visit a drought in Africa? Why meet with Wounded Warriors in the United Kingdom? Why visit refugees in Romania? But if we were reminded of anything, during the COVID-19 pandemic, it is this: diseases do not recognize borders. Neither does hunger, poverty, or violence. We are all connected. Even when times are tough, we share a responsibility to come together. And whether it’s fighting disease or working for peace in this region, we must bridge divides so that all people may live with dignity and security. President Biden-my husband, Joe-understands that there isn’t one leader, one government, or one country that can go it alone, not in a world as inter-woven as ours. The world’s challenges aren’t only ours to endure together. They are ours to solve together. That can be this generation’s story, one of cooperation, understanding, and opportunity. Consider climate change. The consequences of extreme heat, droughts, melting glaciers, and typhoons reverberate around the world. But so too could new technologies with the power to reduce carbon emissions, address water scarcity, and make communities more resilient. It will take all of us-committing to change, sharing our best ideas, and creating innovations that reach everyone-just as fast and as far as any wildfire or ocean wave. Another area that’s ready for more innovation is in women’s health research. Globally, women tend to live longer than men, but we spend almost 25 percent more time in poor health. Innovations are happening all around the world to close that health gap. Imagine a blood test-the first of its kind-that can reduce the time it takes for women to get a diagnosis for a debilitating disease like endometriosis. Or think about the benefits of uncovering why Alzheimer’s is more common in women. This work isn’t just up to scientists and researchers. Governments, academia, the private sector, and NGOs all have to coordinate to make sure the benefits of innovative research reach the people who need them. Your Highness: I am here in Doha as part of my final foreign trip as the First Lady of the United States. In the coming months and years, I will continue to help close the gaps in women’s health research. And the leaders in this room will always have a partner in me to move forward life-saving and world-changing innovations that improve our world. The imperative to join together is not our burden. It is our opportunity. So let us build strong partnerships and innovate our way to better health, opportunity, and prosperity-for all. A brighter world can be our story to tell. Let’s write it, together. The post Remarks as Prepared for Delivery by First Lady Jill Biden at the 2024 Doha Forum appeared first on The White House.