A staff member checks tags on vials of COVID-19 vaccine at a packing line of Sinovac Life Sciences Co., Ltd. in Beijing, capital of China, Dec 23, 2020.Photo:Xinhua

BRICS Vaccine Research and Development (R&D) Center was officially launched in an online ceremony on Tuesday, marking the five countries' step closer to vaccine joint research, plant co-construction, authorized local production, and mutual recognition of standards.

At the ceremony, the five BRICS countries jointly proposed an initiative to strengthen vaccine cooperation to ensure the accessibility and affordability of vaccines in developing countries through their equitable distribution as global public goods.

The initiative is also aimed at enhancing BRICS countries' capability to control infectious diseases and respond to public health events.

It places special emphasis on openness and welcomes more partners to join. The launches of the BRICS Vaccine R&D Center and the initiative mark a solid step forward in strengthening cooperation on public health and vaccine R&D among BRICS countries, the Xinhua News Agency reported.

During the ceremony, Chinese Minister of Science and Technology Wang Zhigang said that China will work with other BRICS countries to use the center's launch as an opportunity to promote exchanges and cooperation on vaccine R&D and testing.

China will work with these countries to jointly establish plants and the mutual recognition of standards, so as to strengthen defense against COVID-19 and deliver hope and confidence for global economic recovery, Wang said.

Related officials and representatives from the five BRICS countries attended the ceremony online.

China's vaccine developer Sinovac is leading the Chinese branch of the BRICS vaccine research and development center, a joint vaccine cooperation effort by the five BRICS countries.

Sinovac has coordinated with Brazil's state-owned Butantan Institute and South Africa's partner on fruitful COVID-19 vaccine development in a bid to increase local production.

Brazilian Minister of Health Marcelo Quiroga appreciated the cooperation with Sinovac for offering supports to their national immunization scheme at the ceremony. 

"We look forward to strengthening the relationship that has been built with BRICS and other countries in the future, and expanding into new areas of cooperation," said Yin Weidong, the CEO of Sinovac.

Global Times