China criticizes developed Countries for hoarding large quantities of Coronavirus Vaccines

China on Thursday accused developed countries of hoarding large quantities of vaccines against coronavirus and criticized what it considers a “growing inequality” in the distribution of doses to developing nations.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said from Beijing at a United Nations Security Council conference on vaccination in the world that “cooperation to fight the pandemic should not be a zero-sum game” and rejected that”geopolitical objectives” in mind when selling vaccines to developing countries.

“The vaccines are being developed and produced at record speed, but there are problems that must be solved. There is a distribution deficit. Vaccines are entering high-income countries rapidly, but not in developing countries. This will only exacerbate more gaps” Wang said.

Therefore, he asked for a “fair and reasonable distribution of vaccines”. And do not leave behind the countries most in need or in conflict.

“China has never had geopolitical goals in selling its vaccines. It has never made calculations to obtain economic benefit and does not set political conditions” said Wang, quoted today by the website of the Chinese Foreign Ministry.

He also indicated that vaccines should be “a public product accessible in all countries” and that “for China it is imperative” it will do everything possible to research, develop and distribute vaccines throughout the world.

“China has provided vaccine assistance to 53 developing countries that requested it, and has exported vaccines to 22 countries. It also helps increase global production capacity”, He said.

What’s more, China has delivered 10 million doses of its vaccines to the Covax mechanism, promoted by the World Health Organization (WHO) in order to get the vaccine as soon as possible and prevent more people from dying from the coronavirus, the minister added.

According to the official press of the Asian country, the vaccines developed by the Chinese companies Sinopharm, Sinovac and CanSino are being used in about thirty developing countries in Africa, Asia or Latin America, while in Europe they have only reached Serbia -a partner country of Beijing- or Hungary.

Guterres asks to vaccinate in all countries

The Secretary General of the United Nations, António Guterres, warned once again this Wednesday that if the vaccination campaign against coronavirus is not implemented in all countries, the virus will continue to mutate, which could prolong “significantly” the survival of the pandemic.

In his appearance, the Portuguese diplomat recalled that “only ten countries have administered 75% of all vaccines against COVID-19. Meanwhile, more than 130 countries have not received a single dose”.