Activated in Africa Aiming to strengthen relations by providing China's "vaccine diplomacy"

"Vaccine diplomacy" in Africa, where China aims to strengthen relations through the provision of vaccines, while the "vaccine disparity", in which securing and inoculation are delayed in developing countries compared to developed countries, has become an issue regarding the vaccine of the new corona virus. Is activating.

On the 10th of last month, 100,000 vaccines developed by the state-owned pharmaceutical company China National Pharmaceutical Group were delivered to Equatorial Guinea in central Africa, and a welcome ceremony was held at the international airport of the capital Malabo with the participation of senior government officials. I was killed.

Equatorial Guinea, which has so far infected about 7,000 of its 1.4 million population with the new coronavirus, became the first country in Africa to receive a free vaccine from China, and Prime Minister Obamaasue said at the ceremony, "Thanks for the vaccine assistance. I have. "

After that, inoculations that prioritized medical personnel and the elderly began in various parts of the country, and according to health authorities, nearly 10,000 people had completed the first inoculation by the 27th, of which 2,400 including President Nugema. The remainder means that the second inoculation has been completed.

A 28-year-old man who received the vaccination said, "I got a vaccine and my image of China improved."

China is approaching Equatorial Guinea, one of Africa's leading oil-producing countries, and while importing large amounts of oil, it has a close relationship with the government, such as building a building for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

For China, which is strengthening its expansion into Africa through the giant economic zone concept "One Zone, One Road," it will be of great benefit if the African economy, which has been hit by the spread of the new coronavirus infection by providing vaccines, recovers. Seen to be judgmental, China has so far begun to provide vaccines to 35 African countries, activating "vaccine diplomacy."

Equatorial Guinea Health Minister "Judging that made in China is the best"

Health Minister Nuzu Emiran of Equatorial Guinea said in an interview with NHK in the capital Malabo that he received assistance from China for vaccines made in China. "As a friendly country, we have a cooperative relationship with China in various fields such as infrastructure development, and vaccines. Is an extension of that, "he said.

In addition, as Equatorial Guinea, "We proceeded with negotiations with Brazil and Russia in addition to China. However, given the early start of vaccination in China, we decided that the product made in China was the best." I made it clear.

On the other hand, Health Minister Nuzu Emiran said that the 100,000 doses provided were provided free of charge, and said, "I would like to purchase another 2 million doses in the future, but I am proceeding with negotiations to purchase 500,000 doses as a starting point." He said he would buy vaccines from China in the future.

He also commented that some people were skeptical about the safety and quality of Chinese-made vaccines. "No skepticism about vaccines is directed solely at Chinese-made vaccines. The president and the president Mrs. and others are taking the initiative in vaccination, and we will continue to appeal for the need for vaccination. "

China is promoting large-scale inoculation of the new coronavirus vaccine in the country, and the Chinese government says that the total number of inoculations by the 29th is more than 110 million.

On the other hand, China is developing "vaccine diplomacy" to actively provide vaccines to each country, and state media reports that vaccination has started in developing and emerging countries on a daily basis.

As of the 30th, China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs has said that it will support 80 countries and 3 international organizations and export to more than 40 countries, as well as 1000 in the international framework "COVAX Facility" aiming for fair distribution of vaccines. It is said that it will provide 10,000 doses.

China has provided mainly countries such as Southeast Asia, Africa, Latin America, and Central and Eastern Europe. Regarding African countries, Foreign Minister Wang Yi said at a press conference on the 7th of this month, "Africa's 35? We are starting to provide vaccines to the country. "

Chinese media reports that Chinese vaccines can be stored at temperatures between 2 and 8 degrees Celsius, making them easy to transport and store, and easy for developing countries to introduce. However, it seems that there is also an aim to expand its influence.

On the other hand, Foreign Minister Wang argued that there was political speculation behind such cooperation, saying that he "opposed any scheme to make cooperation over vaccines a political issue."