33-year fine tradition: Chinese FM’s annual first overseas visit extends China-Africa friendship (5)

Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, China and African countries have continued to provide mutual support. In February 2020, the Executive Council of the African Union issued a communique in support of China’s anti-epidemic efforts – the first time an important regional organization and an entire continent had offered China such support.

Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in Africa, China’s localized production capacity of vaccines in cooperation with African partners has reached about 400 million doses yearly.

At the FOCAC's Eighth Ministerial Conference held in 2021, China announced to provide another one billion doses of vaccines to Africa, including 600 million doses as donation and 400 million doses to be provided through such means as joint production by Chinese companies and relevant African countries. In addition, China would undertake 10 medical and health projects for African countries, and send 1,500 medical personnel and public health experts to Africa.