Workers place a banner reading "China Aid" on supplies which are to be loaded into an Air China 747-400 cargo plane at Shanghai Pudong International Airport  in 2020 to Accra, Ghana. The 37.3 tons of supplies are part of China's aid to African countries to confront the COVID-19 pandemic. Photo: cnsphoto

China will strive to contribute 2 billion COVID-19 vaccine doses to the world this year, in addition to donating 100 million doses to developing countries for free, and providing $100 million to COVAX, to facilitate global vaccine cooperation and build a global community of health for all, a Chinese senior official from the China International Development Cooperation Agency (CIDCA) said on Tuesday.

From the Chinese-built Tanzania-Zambia Railway to the Karakoram Highway, from artemisinin to COVID-19 vaccines, China's career in international aid has gone through 71 years, with "China Aid" on the outside of the packages having become a name-card for the nation.

China has provided more than 1.5 billion COVID-19 vaccine doses to 106 countries and four international organizations since the beginning of this year, as well as a large number of epidemic prevention materials including protective suits, face masks and ventilators to 150 countries and 13 international organizations, Luo Zhaohui, chairman of the CIDCA, said during a press conference.

China has also received support from neighboring countries. Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen and Pakistani President Arif Alvi visited China last year despite facing epidemic challenges. Mongolia donated 30,000 sheep to support China's fight against COVID-19 in 2020. A 10-year-old child from Mongolia, who was studying in Beijing, donated 999 yuan ($157) to support the COVID-19 fight, Luo said. 

In return, China will also support them when they are in need. The delta mutant variant in South Asia and Southeast Asia led to a COVID-19 rebound in April this year. China launched an emergency plan to support them, providing emergency supplies including oxygen tanks, oxygen generators and ventilators to Nepal, Afghanistan, Laos, Cambodia, Myanmar and Sri Lanka. Only within several days, China coordinated a team of medical experts to Laos and sent anti-epidemic supplies to Nepal.

China has provided more than 80 million vaccine doses to neighboring countries and regions. In particular, more than 10 batches of vaccine experts have been dispatched, and thousands of video conferences were held to train medical staff in those countries and regions, Luo noted.

Besides, China has sent 53 batches of anti-epidemic supplies and 28 batches of vaccines to Latin American countries and South Pacific island countries. China has dispatched anti-epidemic medical experts to 17 African countries and provided vaccine assistance to 50 countries in Africa and the African Union as well.