Bangladesh, China and four South Asian countries have expressed concerns that vaccine nationalism will hinder the global efforts to defeat Covid-19, and underscored the need for avoiding the immunity gap.
The countries together agreed that vaccines, as a key weapon to defeat the Covid-19 pandemic, should be distributed in accordance with the principle of equity and justice.
State Councilor and Foreign Minister of China Wang Yi, acting Foreign Minister of Afghanistan Mirwais Nab, Bangladesh Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen, Nepalese Foreign Minister Pradeep Kumar Gyawali, Pakistan Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi and Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Dinesh Gunawardena held a video conference on a joint response to Covid-19 on Tuesday.
They exchanged views on international and regional cooperation on pandemic response and post-Covid economic recovery, according to a joint statement issued on Wednesday.
To push forward practical cooperation in relevant fields, China announced its decision to establish a China-South Asian Countries Emergency Supplies Reserve, set up a China-South Asian Countries Poverty Alleviation and Cooperative Development Center, and hold a China-South Asian Countries E-commerce Cooperation Forum on Poverty Alleviation in Rural Areas.
The other participating countries also expressed support.
