China to aid 19 more African nations with COVID-19 vaccines: foreign ministry

BEIJING, Feb. 22 (Xinhua) -- China has provided COVID-19 vaccine aid to Equatorial Guinea and Zimbabwe and will aid 19 more African countries as part of its commitment to make vaccines global public goods, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said Monday.

China will also support enterprises to export COVID-19 vaccines to African nations that urgently need, recognize and have authorized the emergency use of Chinese vaccines, Wang said.

The aid is a clear manifestation of the China-Africa traditional friendship, he said, adding that China will continue to provide support and assistance within its capacity and in accordance with the needs of Africa.

Meanwhile, China welcomes and supports France and other European and American nations in providing vaccines to help Africa fight the pandemic, Wand told a press briefing.

He made the remarks when asked to comment on French President Emmanuel Macron's remarks at the Munich Security Conference that Europe and the United States should immediately provide enough COVID-19 vaccine doses to Africa, otherwise African countries may choose to purchase vaccines from China and Russia, with that “the strength of the West will be a concept, and not a reality.”

Zimbabwe received 200,000 doses of vaccines from China last Monday and Vice President Constantino Chiwenga, who is also the health minister, became the first Zimbabwean to be inoculated locally.

Mnangagwa once again thanked the Chinese government for donating the vaccines, saying that this was a gesture of humanity.

“Let me once again thank the Chinese government for supporting our fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. The global demand for vaccines is enormous, yet the People's Republic of China put Zimbabwe ahead of many countries and nations,” said Mnangagwa. “We are truly thankful. We're equally thankful to Russia, India and the United Kingdom. We applaud this gesture of great humanity and show of solidarity.”