China Agrees To Prioritise Malaysia As A Recipient Of Their COVID-19 Vaccines
As of October, China has four out of 10 COVID-19 vaccine candidates worldwide that have successfully entered Phase Three clinical trials.
By May Vin Ang — 13 Oct 2020, 04:24 PM
China has given Malaysia priority recipient status for its COVID-19 vaccine once it completes development
According to New Straits Times, Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein said this was one of the things his Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi, had agreed to in a meeting during the latter's official visit to the country today, 13 October.
CNN reported that, as of October, China has four out of 10 COVID-19 vaccine candidates worldwide that have successfully entered Phase Three clinical trials - the last step of testing before regulatory approval.
Hishammuddin said the country appreciated China's commitment to prioritise Malaysia for their COVID-19 vaccine
"We also welcomed China's agreement to encourage Chinese enterprises to establish all-round cooperation with Malaysian partners in vaccine research and development, and distribution," said Hishammuddin during the press conference today.
An engineer shows a COVID-19 vaccine candidate in Beijing.
Image via AFP/Getty Images/Council on Foreign RelationsBoth Foreign Ministers also discussed the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) for cooperation between both countries in the post COVID-19 era
"This MOU provides the broad framework of pragmatic cooperation between the two countries in the post COVID-19 era," said Hishammuddin.
"I hope to sign this MOU personally in my return visit to Beijing when the situation permits."
The bilateral meeting also discussed, among other topics, the Belt and Road Initiative, South China Sea, the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) deal, and the Reciprocal Green Lane (RGL) initiative.
