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China says stockpiling of Covid-19 vaccines by rich countries needs to stop
- Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi warns of growing inequality in vaccine distribution as Covax Facility misses target
- Pandemic cooperation should not be a zero-sum game, Wang tells UN Security Council
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Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has accused developed nations of stockpiling large quantities of Covid-19 vaccines, leading to inadequate supply for poor countries, and hit back at attempts to politicise the pandemic.
Wang told a United Nations Security Council briefing on Covid-19 and vaccine access on Wednesday that cooperation on the pandemic should not be a “zero sum” game and that China had no geopolitical intentions in giving out vaccines.
China has provided vaccine help to 53 countries, with exports of its home-grown products to 22 nations. In addition, China has given 10 million doses of Covid-19 vaccine to the World Health Organization’s Covax Facility – which aims to provide equitable access – and will widen its distribution to include UN peacekeeping forces, Wang told the 15-member council in a video conference.
“China is not seeking any geopolitical aims or economic gains in its Covid-19 vaccine international cooperation, and will not attach political conditions to it,” Wang said.
But he criticised growing inequality in vaccine distribution and called on the world to work together to ensure vaccines were accessible to developing nations.
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