Xi Pledges $2 Billion Aid, Global Access to Covid-19 Vaccine

What’s New: Chinese President Xi Jinping vowed to allocate $2 billion over two years to help countries fight and recover from the Covid-19 pandemic, particularly developing nations.

In an address to an online session of the World Health Assembly Monday, Xi also pledged to make China’s coronavirus vaccine a global public good once one is available.

“This will be China’s contribution to ensuring vaccine accessibility and affordability in developing countries,” the president said.

Xi also called for global support of the World Health Organization (WHO) as the United Nations health arm faces U.S. funding cuts from the Trump administration.

“At this critical juncture, to support the WHO is to support international cooperation and the battle for saving lives as well,” he said.

What’s More: The Chinese president for the first time defended the country’s handling of the outbreak. China “acted with openness, transparency and responsibility” and “provided information to WHO and relevant countries in a most timely fashion,” Xi said.

China will continue supporting global research by scientists on the source and transmission routes of the virus, Xi said.

The president called for more global support for African countries in the fight against Covid-19. China will establish a cooperation mechanism for its hospitals to pair up with 30 African hospitals and accelerate construction of a disease control and prevention headquarters on the continent.

He also vowed to work with other Group of 20 countries to carry out a debt relief initiative for “the poorest countries.”

Quick Takes are condensed versions of China-related stories for fast news you can use. To read the full story in Chinese, click here.

Contact reporter Han Wei (weihan@caixin.com) and editor Bob Simison (bobsimison@caixin.com)