China considers joining UN vaccine programme

China said it is considering joining the United Nations programme to coordinate the development of a COVID-19 vaccine called COVAX.

"China is studying and reviewing the matters related to participating in COVAX," said Zhao Lijian, a Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson, at a regular press briefing in Beijing on Tuesday.

"What I want to emphasise is that China firmly supports the development of health undertakings in developing countries, actively fulfills its commitment to producing vaccines as public goods, and will continue to use its own advantages in vaccine research and development, and production capacity to work with the international community to jointly push ahead with positive progress of global immunisation," he said.

The spokesperson also spoke about an upcoming European trip by Foreign Minister Wang Yi as well as an ongoing political and trade dispute with Australia.

"We hope Australia will provide a level playing field for Chinese companies' operation there," he said.