China is providing vaccine aid to 80 countries and three international organizations, exporting vaccines to more than 40 countries, and cooperating with more than 10 nations in vaccine research, development and production, a Foreign Ministry spokesperson said Tuesday. Hua Chunying made the remarks at a press briefing after World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus warned Monday against a widening gap between the number of coronavirus vaccines in wealthy countries and those distributed to poorer nations through the global COVAX initiative.

saying vaccination is a powerful weapon against viruses and a hope to save lives, Hua added it should serve the whole world and benefit all mankind.

China took the lead in promising vaccines as global public goods and striving to improve the accessibility and affordability of vaccines in developing countries.

China has joined COVAX and made a clear commitment to provide an initial 10 million doses of vaccines to meet urgent needs in developing countries, she added.

China has also responded to the call of the United Nations to donate vaccines to peacekeepers from all over the world, Hua said. "We are also willing to cooperate with the International Olympic Committee to provide vaccines to athletes preparing to participate in the Olympic Games."