Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying addresses a press conference on Jan. 4, 2021. (Photo/fmprc.gov.cn)
(ECNS) – The Chinese Foreign Ministry has reassured the world that China would fulfill its commitment on ensuring accessibility and affordability of vaccines in developing countries as a global public good.
The following are remarks of Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying in response to questions at a press conference Monday about China's vaccine cooperation with other countries and the safety and effectiveness of Chinese vaccines:
China all along remains open to international cooperation on vaccines and actively supports Chinese companies in cooperating with their foreign counterparts in vaccine R&D and production. At present, several Chinese vaccine candidates are undergoing phase III clinical trials smoothly abroad. China has also taken an active part in COVAX and other relevant international cooperation initiatives. Countries like the UAE and Bahrain have approved the registration of Sinopharm's inactivated vaccines. China will firmly fulfill its commitment on ensuring the accessibility and affordability of vaccines in developing countries as a global public good after China's COVID-19 vaccines are ready for deployment.
As for the safety and efficacy of Chinese vaccines, I would like to stress that the Chinese government always puts vaccine's safety and efficacy in the first place, and Chinese companies have been developing vaccines in strict accordance with laws and regulations, following scientific laws and regulatory requirements.
On December 30 last year, the National Medical Products Administration has approved conditional marketing authorization for Sinopharm's inactivated COVID-19 vaccine, which testifies to the safety and effectiveness of Chinese vaccines. China is ready to continue to work with other parties to promote vaccines' equitable distribution, contribute to the global fight against COVID-19 and protect the lives and health of people around the world.
