Xi Jinping of China: "Vaccine Cooperation with Central and Eastern Europe... Serbia Begins Sinopharm Vaccine Inoculation"

Chinese President Xi Jinping [Photo by EPA]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Eunbyeol] Chinese President Xi Jinping expressed his intention to cooperate on COVID-19 vaccine issues and increase trade volume with Central and Eastern European countries.

According to Xinhua News Agency and Global Times on the 9th, President Xi said at the '17+1' summit (video conference) held in Beijing in the afternoon, an economic cooperation promotion mechanism between China and the 17 Central and Eastern European Countries (CEEC), "China is ready to cooperate with CEEC member countries on vaccines."

He emphasized that Serbia was the first in the European continent to start administering the Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccine from a Chinese pharmaceutical company, and said cooperation is also underway with Hungary. He stated, "China will actively consider cooperation with other CEEC countries as well," adding, "We will promote vaccines as a global public good and contribute to the equitable distribution and use of vaccines."

He highly evaluated the achievements of cooperation between China and CEEC and promised to expand trade volume and cooperation in economic, educational, and sports fields. President Xi said, "Trade between China and CEEC countries has increased by nearly 85% compared to nine years ago, and the number of tourist visits has increased about fourfold," adding, "China plans to import more than $170 billion worth of goods from CEEC countries within the next five years."

Additionally, he proposed strengthening cooperation in the sports sector through the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, holding an education policy consortium, and supporting the establishment of a Hungarian university by Shanghai Fudan University.

The summit, launched in 2012, includes 12 European Union (EU) member countries: Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, Croatia, Slovenia, and Greece.

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