Zhao Lijian

More than 100 countries have approved the use of COVID-19 vaccines produced by Chinese firms, and leaders of 30 countries have been openly inoculated with them.

There have been more and more rational and scientific voices defending the efficacy of Chinese vaccines, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian said on Thursday.

Zhao made the remarks at a regular press conference, commenting on a new research from one of Sri Lanka's leading universities, the Sri Jayewardenepura University, which found that China's Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccine is highly effective against the Delta variant - a variant that has become dominant across the world.

"This vaccine was found to be very effective against the Delta variant. The antibody responses to the delta variant and neutralizing antibodies were similar to levels seen following natural infection," the University said on its website on Monday.

According to the study, 95 percent of individuals who received two doses of the Sinopharm vaccine have developed antibodies similar to a naturally infected person. The study showed that two doses of Sinopharm vaccine produced neutralizing antibodies in 81.25 percent of recipients and that these antibody levels were similar to what would occur after surviving a natural infection of COVID-19.

Zhao said he had noticed "more and more scientific and rational voices defending Chinese vaccines and putting 'safety label' on them."

According to the spokesperson, China has provided more than 500 million vaccine doses to more than 100 countries and organizations across the world. And leaders from multiple countries have spoken highly of the contribution Chinese doses have made. The people inoculated with Chinese vaccines have also voiced their support.

For example, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic received his first dose of COVID-19 vaccine made by Chinese producer Sinopharm early in April, media reported.

As an active participant and supporter of the COVAX program, Chinese firms are sparing no efforts to secure production and are projected to provide 110 million doses in the next four months. Two types of Chinese vaccines have been recognized and approved for emergency use by the WHO.

China is willing to work with the int'l community and provide the world, especially developing countries, with safe and effective vaccines. The country is pushing for a strong global anti-epidemic cooperation, in order to defeat the pandemic as soon as possible, Zhao said.

Global Times