Li Keqiang "China Donates $20 Million to Global Vaccine Alliance"

[Asia Economy Beijing=Special Correspondent Park Sun-mi] China announced that it will support the Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, with 24 billion KRW from 2021 to 2025 to respond to the challenges posed by COVID-19.

According to the Global Times on the 5th, Premier Li pledged to provide 20 million USD (approximately 24 billion KRW) for the international community's joint development of COVID-19 vaccines at the 'Global Vaccine Summit 2020,' held via video conference the previous day.

Premier Li, while pledging the 20 million USD support, stated, "China has closely cooperated with international partners in the process of developing COVID-19 vaccines and will ensure that the developed vaccines are supplied as a global public good."

The Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, supported by the Bill Gates Foundation, raised 8.8 billion USD from world leaders and companies at the 'Global Vaccine Summit 2020' hosted by UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson. The initial fundraising goal was 7.4 billion USD, but the results exceeded expectations. Leaders and company representatives from over 50 countries worldwide attended the event via video conference.

However, there are criticisms that China's 20 million USD support is smaller than expected. China emphasizes that it has shifted its role from a 'recipient' to a 'donor,' starting with a 5 million USD donation to Gavi in 2015, and that the donation amount has now increased to 20 million USD. Nevertheless, some argue that the donation amount is disproportionately small compared to China's economic scale.

The UK will remain the largest donor by providing 1.65 billion pounds (approximately 2.5 trillion KRW) over the next five years. Gavi plans to use the raised funds to vaccinate 300 million children in impoverished countries by 2025.

Meanwhile, Premier Li separately chaired a COVID-19 response leadership group meeting the previous day and commented on China's vaccine development status: "China's COVID-19 vaccine research and development trials have gradually achieved results and effectiveness. We must actively promote phased clinical trials and complete the development of the COVID-19 vaccine as soon as possible," he said.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.