Xi: China to do more to make vaccine available in developing countries

Sinovac COVID-19 vaccine vials at a vaccination center in Santiago, Chile, March 18, 2021. /CFP

China will increase efforts in international anti-pandemic cooperation and help make COVID-19 vaccines available and affordable for people in developing countries, Chinese President Xi Jinping said Tuesday at the opening plenary of the Boao Forum for Asia via video link.

President Xi highlighted that it's important to strengthen international cooperation on the research and development, production and distribution of vaccines, and "increase their accessibility and affordability in developing countries so that everyone in the world can access and afford the vaccines they need."

People and their lives should be the top priority and further efforts shall be made in information sharing and collective control, enhancing public health and medical cooperation, and strengthening the role of the World Health Organization (WHO), Xi said.

He pointed out that solidarity and cooperation are needed to create a future of health and security, and China will continue to cooperate with the WHO and other countries, honor its commitment of making vaccines a global public good, and contribute more to help developing countries fight the virus.