China pledges more vaccines for developing nations

China is the world's largest provider of COVID-19 vaccines, Zhang Yesui, spokesman for the fifth session of the 13th National People's Congress, told a news briefing on Friday.

In total, China has provided over 2.1 billion doses to more than 120 countries and international organizations, accounting for one-third of the total number of vaccines administered outside China, and the majority are provided to developing world, Zhang said.

"China's vaccines have played an important role in helping many developing countries to build immunity barriers, resume normal lives and boost their capacity, confidence and determination to beat the pandemic," he said, adding that as a major partner in vaccine cooperation the country will continue to prioritize developing countries.

China will provide a further 1 billion doses to African countries: 600 million will be given as donations and the other 400 million will be provided through joint production between Chinese companies and African countries.

Zhang said: "This is aimed at helping the continent realize the goal set by the African Union to vaccinate 60 percent of the African population by the end of the year."

He added that China will send 150 million more doses to countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. Chinese companies have also launched joint production and filling plants with developing countries, and the annual manufacturing capacity of such projects has reached 1 billion doses, he said.