China will provide an additional $3 billion in international aid over the next three years to support COVID-19 response and economic and social recovery in other developing countries, Chinese President Xi Jinping said on Friday.
Xi made the remarks during a speech at the Global Health Summit via video link from Beijing on Friday.
The summit was a special event in Rome and organized by Italy, the G20 Presidency of 2021, and the European Commission.
Xi said China has already supplied 300 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines to the world and will provide more, and China is fully implementing the G20 Debt Service Suspension Initiative for Poorest Countries and has so far put off debt repayments exceeding $1.3 billion, the highest deferral among G20 members.
China supports its vaccine companies in transferring technologies to other developing countries and carrying out joint production with them, Xi said.
In his speech, Xi said G20 members need to shoulder responsibilities in global cooperation against the virus, and he made five proposals.
Xi said we must tide over this trying time through solidarity and cooperation, and firmly reject any attempt to politicize, label or stigmatize the virus. He said that political manipulation would not serve the COVID-19 response on the domestic front. It would only disrupt international cooperation against the virus and bring greater harm to people around the world.
During his speech, Xi quoted ancient Roman philosopher Seneca: “We are all waves of the same sea,” pledging China will continue global cooperation in the COVID-19 fight and build a global community of health for all.
Chinese President Xi Jinping attends the Global Health Summit and delivers a speech via video in Beijing, capital of China, May 21, 2021.Photo:Xinhua
