China delivers 350 million doses vaccines to BRI partners

BEIJING, Aug. 2 (Xinhua) -- China has delivered 350 million doses of vaccines to co-sponsors of the Initiative for Belt and Road Partnership on COVID-19 Vaccines Cooperation, a Foreign Ministry spokesperson said Monday.

The spokesperson said in a press release that Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi chaired the Asia and Pacific High-level Conference on Belt and Road Cooperation in June this year. During the meeting, China and 28 countries jointly launched the Initiative for Belt and Road Partnership on COVID-19 Vaccines Cooperation, calling for stronger cooperation in vaccine assistance, export, and joint production.

China has been actively implementing the initiative and reached cooperation agreements with co-sponsors of the initiative on a total of 775 million doses of vaccines, including in the form of concentrates, of which 350 million doses have been delivered, the spokesperson said.

Chinese companies have started joint production with four co-sponsors of the initiative and are discussing joint production with other interested countries, said the spokesperson.

China stands ready to carry forward the efforts with Belt and Road partners to promote the equitable distribution of vaccines globally and increase vaccine accessibility and affordability in Belt and Road countries and other developing countries, said the spokesperson.