浙侨英频 ?China to provide 2 billion COVID vaccines globally

发布时间：2021-08-09

 

Donated doses of a COVID-19 vaccine from China's Sinovac Biotech, as well as syringes, await unloading at an international airport in Zanzibar, Tanzania, on July 31, 2021. [PhotoXinhua]

 

Nation also to donate $100 million for efforts to ensure access to affordable inoculations

President Xi Jinping said on Thursday that China will provide a total of 2 billion doses of COVID-19 vaccines to the world this year, in the latest effort to honor its commitment to make vaccines a global public good by ensuring vaccine accessibility and affordability.

He also said that China will donate $100 million to the COVAX global vaccine initiative for the distribution of vaccines to developing countries.

Xi made the announcements in a written speech delivered to the first meeting of the international forum on COVID-19 vaccine cooperation.

State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi hosted the meeting on Thursday via video link. About 30 parties, including nations' ministers and representatives of the United Nations, other international organizations and enterprises, participated.

As one of the five measures announced by Xi at the Global Health Summit in May to further support global solidarity against COVID-19, the forum aims to provide a platform for countries that develop and produce vaccines, as well as companies and other stakeholders, to explore ways of promoting fair and equitable distribution of vaccines around the world.

Noting the repeated resurgence and frequent mutations of the coronavirus, Xi said in his written address to Thursday's meeting that he expected the forum to make new progress in promoting fair access to vaccines, inject new momentum into cooperation and solidarity among developing countries, and contribute to mankind's early victory against the virus.

China will continue to help developing countries deal with the pandemic to the best of its ability and will work with the international community to advance international vaccine cooperation and build a community with a shared future for mankind, the president said.

Since Xi vowed at the virtual opening of the 73rd World Health Assembly last year to make China's COVID-19 vaccine development and use a global public good, Chinese vaccines have gained increasing recognition across the world and have been granted approval for emergency use by the World Health Organization and more than 100 countries.

According to the Foreign Ministry, China has provided more than 750 million doses and concentrates to over 100 countries and international organizations so far. China has provided more doses to developing countries than anyone else and has vaccine cooperation partners all over the globe.

With the support of the Chinese government, Chinese vaccine companies have started joint production in many countries, including the United Arab Emirates, Indonesia, Malaysia, Egypt, Brazil, Turkey, Pakistan and Mexico, with production capacity exceeding 200 million doses.

Ruan Zongze, executive vice-president of the China Institute of International Studies, said that Thursday's meeting helped to address the biggest challenge now facing global cooperation－the uneven accessibility and affordability of vaccines.

While poor countries struggle to find vaccines, rich countries have pre-purchased more vaccines than they will ultimately need. Such inequality of vaccine distribution has hindered global cooperation on jointly fighting the virus, Ruan said.

By promoting international vaccine cooperation, China is playing a leading and active role in building a global community of health for all with practical actions, he said.

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【背景阅读】

习近平向新冠疫苗合作国际论坛首次会议发表书面致辞

新华社北京8月5日电 8月5日，国家主席习近平向新冠疫苗合作国际论坛首次会议发表书面致辞。

习近平指出，今年5月，我在全球健康峰会上宣布了中国支持全球团结抗疫的五项举措，其中包括倡议设立新冠疫苗合作国际论坛，由疫苗生产研发国家、企业、利益攸关方一道探讨推进全球疫苗公平合理分配。当前，疫情起伏反复，病毒频繁变异。我期待本次论坛会议为全球疫苗公平可及迈出新步伐，为发展中国家团结合作注入新动力，为人类早日战胜疫情作出新贡献。

习近平强调，中国始终秉持人类卫生健康共同体理念，向世界特别是广大发展中国家提供疫苗，积极开展合作生产。这是疫苗作为全球公共产品的应有之义。中国会继续尽己所能，帮助广大发展中国家应对疫情。今年全年，中国将努力向全球提供20亿剂疫苗。中国决定向“新冠疫苗实施计划”捐赠1亿美元，用于向发展中国家分配疫苗。我们愿同国际社会一道，推进疫苗国际合作进程，推动构建人类命运共同体。

 

来源新华社