Wang Yi, Chinese Foreign Minister, Targets US: "Must Eliminate False Information and Politicization Attempts"

UN Security Council Vaccine Ministers' Virtual Meeting Calls for Unity Instead of Division
Vaccine Concentration in Wealthy Countries... President Xi Jinping Pledges to Keep Vaccine as a Public Good

[Asia Economy Beijing=Special Correspondent Jo Young-shin] Wang Yi, Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister, targeted the United States and stated that the COVID-19 pandemic is not a zero-sum game and nationalism should not be pursued.

According to China's state-run People's Daily and Global Times on the 18th, Wang Yi attended a ministerial-level video conference on COVID-19 vaccines held by the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) the previous day and delivered a speech titled "Human-centered Global Infectious Disease Strengthening."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Minister Wang emphasized, "We must strengthen global COVID-19 prevention and control," adding, "This is a relay race to save lives together, not a zero-sum game." He continued, "Countries should cooperate in epidemic prevention with unity rather than division," and argued, "False information and politicization attempts regarding COVID-19 must be eliminated through science instead of prejudice, and UNSC member states should set an example."

Minister Wang also expressed concern about the shortage of COVID-19 vaccines. He said, "Vaccines are flowing mainly to high-income countries, while poor countries are receiving almost nothing." He pointed out, "Countries must reject vaccine nationalism and promote fair and reasonable distribution of vaccines," adding, "We must never forget developing countries and people in need of vaccines." Referring to President Xi Jinping's declaration of COVID-19 vaccines as a "public good," Wang promised, "China will definitely uphold this."

Finally, he stated, "China has never pursued any geopolitical political goals in international cooperation on COVID-19 vaccines, nor has it sought any economic benefits or attached political conditions," adding, "China will strive to make vaccines available to all people in every country."

The Global Times reported that the Sinopharm vaccine developed by China arrived at Budapest Airport in Hungary, making Hungary, a member of the European Union (EU), the first country to introduce a Chinese vaccine. The media also reported that Chinese vaccines have arrived in African countries such as Senegal, Morocco, and Zimbabwe and vaccinations have begun, with China planning to supply more vaccines.

Regarding concerns about vaccine shortages in China, the media cited experts saying that China has an annual production capacity of 1 billion doses but that production capacity could increase up to twice that amount.

Peng Duojia, chairman of the China Vaccine Industry Association, said, "China's COVID-19 vaccine production capacity could reach 4 billion doses annually," adding, "This corresponds to 40% of global demand."

The Global Times emphasized that China is fulfilling its promise to supply vaccines worldwide as a public good and stated, "It is wrong for some foreign media to politicize Chinese vaccines."

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