India,China will discuss Xi’s offer to develop vaccine

Tribune News Service
NEW DELHI, NOVEMBER 18

Officials of China and India will discuss the modalities of cooperation to develop Covid-19 vaccine proposed by President Xi Jinping, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said on Wednesday.

Asked what kind of cooperation China is seeking with India on the development of vaccine, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said, “What I mean is that the competent authorities of China and India can communicate with each other on the specific issues you mentioned.”

Xi had said at the BRICS virtual summit on Tuesday that Chinese companies were working with their Russian and Brazilian partners on phase 3 clinical trials for vaccine and “we are prepared to have cooperation with South Africa and India as well”.

Zhao, however, did not address specific questions on possible Sino-Indian cooperation on the five Chinese vaccines undergoing phase 3 trials in the country as well as in the UAE, Brazil, Pakistan and Peru.

Asked about the initiatives China has taken with India in this regard to vaccine cooperation till now, Zhao gave a boilerplate answer. “The Chinese government is willing to make contributions to achieving the accessibility and affordability of vaccines in developing countries and the building of a community of health for humankind,” he said.