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WORLD NEWS Tuesday 18 January 2022
China's Xi rejects 'Cold War mentality,' pushes cooperation

By JAMEY KEATEN the expense of others will
GENEVA (AP) — Chinese not help," he added. "The
President Xi Jinping called right way forward for hu-
Monday for greater world manity is peaceful devel-
cooperation against CO- opment and win-win coop-
VID-19 and said China eration."
would send an additional 1 Xi said China "stands ready
billion doses of vaccine to to work with" other govern-
other countries, while urg- ments on climate but an-
ing other powers to discard nounced no new initiatives
a "Cold-War mentality" at and offered no resources.
a time of rising geopolitical He said it was up to devel-
tensions — a veiled swipe oped countries to provide
at the United States. money and technology.
The Chinese leader touted After Xi spoke, Moderna
his country's efforts to share CEO Stephane Bancel said
vaccines, fight climate during a session on the
change and promote de- future of COVID-19 that
velopment at home and he hoped the U.S.-based
abroad as he delivered the company would have a
opening speech of a virtual combined vaccine booster
gathering hosted by the ready to test in advanced
World Economic Forum. research in the second
The online event is being quarter, saying a best-case
held in place of its annual "This is such a formidable vi- billion — including a dona- tensions between the Unit- scenario would be if the
January meeting in Davos, rus," Fauci said, noting the tion of 600 million doses to ed States and China have single shot covering both
Switzerland, because of difficulty in achieving herd Africa and an extra 150 mil- simmered on topics like Tai- flu and COVID-19 would be
health concerns linked to immunity against COVID-19 lion to Southeast Asia. wan, intellectual property, ready for use next year.
the coronavirus pandemic. because of the tendency By comparison, managers trade, human rights and "I don't think it would hap-
The global outbreak that of immunity to fade, even of the U.N.-backed CO- the South China Sea. pen in every country, but
has claimed over 5.5 mil- after vaccination. "You VAX program to ship vac- "We need to discard Cold we believe it's possible to
lion lives and upended make the virus have an ad- cines to developing coun- War mentality and seek happen in some countries
the world economy was vantage when you don't tries announced over the peaceful coexistence and next year," Bancel said.
another theme. In a panel implement in a unified way weekend that it has now win-win outcomes. Our Moderna has been heav-
session on the virus, Mod- all the very well-recognized delivered 1 billion vaccine world today is far from be- ily criticized for prioritizing
erna's CEO said the vac- public health measures, doses. ing tranquil," said Xi, through distribution of its COVID-19
cine maker was working particularly the vaccines." Xi touched on standard a translator. "Protectionism vaccines to rich countries;
on a single-shot booster Xi, who hasn't left China themes from previous talks and unilateralism can pro- only a fraction of its supply
for both COVID-19 and the since the coronavirus to international audienc- tect no one. They ultimate- has gone to poor countries
flu, while U.S. infectious dis- emerged in early 2020, said es, including responding ly hurt the interests of others via COVAX. He said the
eases expert Dr. Anthony in his speech that China to trading partners' com- as well as one's own. Even company was aiming to
Fauci lamented as "very has exported over 2 billion plaints by promising to worse are the practices of make about 2 to 3 billion
disturbing" the reluctance doses of its COVID-19 vac- open China's state-domi- hegemony and bullying, doses this year and hopes
of many Americans to fol- cines to over 120 countries nated economy wider to which run counter to the to have data from a new
low basic measures like and international institu- private and foreign com- tide of history. vaccine tweaked to ad-
mask-wearing and getting tions. He announced plans petition. "A zero-sum approach that dress the omicron variant in
vaccinated. to provide an additional 1 His comments come as enlarges one's own gain at March.q
COVID program delivers 1 billion doses to poorer countries

BERLIN (AP) — The World tries to prioritize COVAX. It and know-how by pharma-
Health Organization said said that, as of Thursday, 36 ceutical companies meant
Sunday that a U.N.-backed of its 194 member countries manufacturing capacity
program shipping coro- had vaccinated less than went unused."
navirus vaccines to many 10% of their population and At the end of December,
poor countries has now de- 88 had vaccinated less WHO Director-General
livered 1 billion doses, but than 40%. Tedros Adhanom Ghe-
that milestone "is only a re- The program has made de- breyesus urged everyone
minder of the work that re- liveries to 144 countries so to make a "new year's reso-
mains" after hoarding and far, "but the work that has lution" to get behind a cam-
stockpiling in rich countries. gone into this milestone is paign to vaccinate 70% of
A shipment of 1.1 million only a reminder of the work countries' populations by
COVID-19 vaccine doses that remains," WHO said in the beginning of July. In a
to Rwanda on Saturday a statement. newspaper interview pub-
included the billionth dose "COVAX's ambition was lished Sunday, Germany's
supplied via the COVAX compromised by hoard- new international devel-
program, the U.N. health ing/stockpiling in rich coun- opment minister said she needs in 2022. was quoted as telling the
agency said. tries, catastrophic out- wants to use her country's "Unfortunately, there are Funke newspaper group.
WHO has long criticized breaks leading to borders presidency this year of the still too few countries par- "Alongside Sweden, Nor-
unequal distribution of vac- and supply being locked," it Group of Seven industrial ticipating in the financing way, Canada and the U.S.,
cines and called for manu- added. "And a lack of shar- nations to ensure that CO- of the global vaccination we are the ones who are
facturers and other coun- ing of licenses, technology VAX gets the resources it campaign," Svenja Schulze giving most. q