The fifth session of the 13th National People's Congress will hold a press conference at 12:00 on March 4 in the press conference hall of the Great Hall of the People. The spokesperson of the conference will answer questions from Chinese and foreign reporters on the agenda of the conference and the work of the National People's Congress.
Channel NewsAsia: As the COVID-19 epidemic continues to spread, many developing countries are currently unable to obtain vaccines, especially mRNA vaccines.
China has been shipping vaccines around the world while also developing its own mRNA vaccine.
Spokesperson, does China have any further plans to share this type of vaccine with other countries?
Is there a specific timetable?
Is this also a step taken by China to open its borders to the outside world?
Zhang Yesui: At the beginning of the outbreak, President Xi Jinping solemnly announced that after China's new crown vaccine research and development is completed and put into use, it will be a global public good.
Afterwards, President Xi Jinping further proposed a global vaccine cooperation action initiative, expressing the need to ensure fair distribution of vaccines as a global public good, especially to benefit developing countries.
The latest data I got is that so far, China has provided more than 2.1 billion doses of vaccines to more than 120 countries and international organizations, accounting for one-third of the total global vaccine use outside China, and it is the country that provides the most vaccines. .
Among the more than 120 countries, the vast majority are developing countries.
The vaccines provided by China have played an important role in building immune barriers and restoring social life in many developing countries, enhancing their ability, confidence and determination to fight the epidemic.
China will continue to insist that developing countries be the main partners of vaccine cooperation.
Recently, President Xi Jinping announced that he will provide another 1 billion doses of vaccines to African countries, of which 600 million doses will be provided as free assistance, and 400 million doses will be provided through joint production by Chinese companies and relevant African countries to help African countries achieve the 2022 target set by the African Union. The goal of vaccinating 60% of the African population; providing about 150 million doses of vaccines to ASEAN countries free of charge.
China has always attached great importance to and actively promoted international cooperation in vaccine research and development, production and distribution.
Some Chinese companies have also cooperated with many developing countries to produce and fill vaccines, and signed joint vaccine production agreements with many developing countries, initially forming an annual production capacity of more than 1 billion doses.
Regarding the mRNA vaccine you just mentioned, as far as I know, some domestic companies are conducting research and development and have made positive progress.
(Organized according to the text of the webcast)