On November 10, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken hosted the Virtual COVID-19 Ministerial joined by multiple foreign ministers and leaders from international organizations, discussing issues such as equity of vaccine distribution, global health security, etc. Ambassador Qin Gang, as Representative of State Councilor and Foreign Minister of China Wang Yi, attended the meeting and delivered remarks.

Ambassador Qin Gang pointed out, President Xi Jinping has said on many occasions that vaccines should be made a global public good. He has proposed a Global Vaccine Cooperation Action Initiative, and called for fair distribution of vaccines globally, equal treatment of different vaccines, and mutual recognition of vaccines in accordance with the WHO’s Emergency Use Listing.

To date, China has provided over 1.7 billion doses of finished and bulk vaccines to over 100 countries, and will provide a total of two billion doses within this year. We have supplied over 70 million doses of vaccines and donated US$100 million to COVAX. Vaccine supply should be maximized through a combination of donation, commercial purchases, joint production and other means.

Ambassador Qin Gang stressed, China firmly supports developing countries in fighting the pandemic, and has provided them with a large number of medical supplies. Over 99% of vaccines we have provided for the world have been shipped to other developing countries. President Xi announced in September that China would donate 100 million doses of vaccines to other developing countries by the end of this year. In addition, China has launched an Initiative for Belt and Road Partnership on COVID-19 Vaccines Cooperation with 30 countries, and is conducting joint vaccine production with 19 developing countries.

Ambassador Qin Gang said, Solidarity and cooperation is the most powerful weapon to defeat COVID-19. Countries must take a scientific attitude, and oppose stigmatization and politicization. Major countries need to earnestly shoulder their responsibilities in taking the lead in providing vaccines to low and mid-income countries quickly and help them build up production of vaccines.