BRI key platform for global vaccine cooperation

It has been agreed that international cooperation is essential in the battle against COVID-19.

Participants at a forum in Beijing have discussed the role of Belt and Road cooperation in facilitating vaccine distribution for developing countries.

Experts, business leaders and governmental officials sit down both online and offline at the Belt and Road Trade and Investments Forum in Beijing, calling for stronger international cooperation in tackling COVID-19.

The World Health Organization has stressed the importance of vaccinations in controlling new variants.

The view is also shared among many scientists and experts at the forum.

The Belt and Road Trade and Investments Forum is held in Beijing on December 2, 2021. [Photo provided to China Plus]

But there's also a gap in vaccination among different countries. Henry Tillman, Chair of Grisons Peak, noted that though companies in the West are producing most of the vaccines in the world, China is the one who is working to close the gap.

He pointed out that the BRI Vaccine Partnership Initiative established in June is an example platform to address the gap: "The world needs around 17 billion doses to inoculate three jabs in the world. Basically, the West is producing most of that. China is closing the gap quickly. I think, this year, if China assured 10 billion doses for two years, I think two billion will have gone globally. So China has done a fantastic job getting the vaccines out to the world."

Chinese President Xi Jinping has vowed to make vaccines a global public good.

Shi Shengyi, vice president of Chinese vaccine maker Sinopharm, said they've been working to honor this commitment.

"Up till the end of this year, Sinopharm would provide a total of 1 billion doses of COVID-19 vaccines.” She said, “And a very large part of it is donated especially to less developed countries that are struggling to get the infection under control and to BRI countries. We have taken actions to make vaccines a public good."

Shi added that the total production is 2.5 billion doses, meaning half of its production has gone outside of China.

Chinese vaccines make up a key part in mass vaccination plans of many countries, like Argentina.

Most recently, Argentina approved CanSino vaccine as the booster shot and Sinopharm for the inoculation of children aged between 3 and 11.

Argentine Ambassador to China Sabino Vaca Narvaja said, they are also collaborating with Chinese companies to transfer technologies related to vaccines.

The ambassador said: "In 2020, China provided medical supplies and vaccines to help us fight the pandemic. We know if we don't control the spread, it's very likely to mutate into more variants. Omicron is an example.”

He also noted: “China has been helping and cooperating with many countries around the world in vaccines as donations and transferring technologies. In Argentina, we are planning to produce Chinese vaccines locally with Sinopharm and CanSino, which will involve the transferring of vaccine technologies."

So far, China has provided over 1.8 billion doses of vaccines to the international community.

And frameworks like the Belt and Road Initiative have served as key platforms to facilitate vaccine cooperation.