Will help South Asia, says Beijing

BEIJING: China on Tuesday told foreign ministers from five South Asian countries in a virtual meet that it will help them get access to Covid-19 vaccines as India, which did not attend the event, continued to be battered by an ongoing wave of the coronavirus pandemic.

The escalating situation in India has forced the government to withhold vaccine aid to neighbouring countries such as Nepal and Bangladesh. Beijing is likely to fill in that gap by scaling up the manufacturing and supply of Covid-19 vaccines to South Asian countries.

Bangladesh on Tuesday, for example, approved Russia’s Sputnik V vaccine for emergency use and is set to clear a jab from China’s Sinopharm as vaccine supply from India falters, Reuters reported from Dhaka.

China’s state councillor and foreign minister Wang Yi hosted the conference attended by Afghanistan, Pakistan, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, to which India was also invited, the Chinese foreign ministry said.

In the video conference, Wang, besides offering to help south Asian countries to access vaccines, said China was willing to set up emergency supply reserves, or warehouses, with those countries in the fight against Covid-19, a statement from the Chinese foreign ministry said.

Wang told the meeting that India had been invited to it, but gave no reason why New Delhi did not attend it. “China deeply sympathises with the outbreak in India and extends sincere condolences to the people of India. China stands ready to provide support and assistance to the Indian people in accordance with India’s needs,” Wang said.

Wang said China is ready to promote vaccine cooperation with South Asian countries in various ways.