BEIJING: Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi said that China is willing to continue providing help and support for Nigeria’s fight against COVID-19 till the African country finally prevails over it. In a phone conversation with Nigerian Foreign Affairs Minister Geoffrey Onyeama, Wang said Nigeria is a major country with important influence, adding that China attaches great importance to Nigeria’s status and role on the international stage, always views and develops the China-Nigeria relations from a strategic altitude and long-term perspective. China firmly supports Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari’s efforts to lead the Nigerian people to develop their economy, improve their livelihood, maintain national security, and commit to peace and stability in Africa and the world, Wang said. Since the outbreak of the novel coronavirus disease, China and Nigeria have been supporting, helping and looking out for each other, he said. The Chinese side has provided Nigeria with anti-epidemic materials and shared its experience in epidemic prevention, and Chinese enterprises and civil organizations have also voluntarily offered supplies, Wang noted. The friendship and mutual trust between China and Nigeria have been promoted and strengthened in the joint fight against the disease, he said. Wang emphasized that at present, vaccine research, development and use have raised broad international attentions, with some powerful countries trying to seize the market and even to monopolize resources, which puts developing countries at an unfavourable position. China has announced that once successfully developed, the vaccine will be used as a public good to provide assistance to developing countries including those in Africa, Wang said, adding that China will continue to push forward this process and strengthen vaccine cooperation with Africa. – Agencies
