New Delhi, May 17 (UNI) China on Monday voiced it's support for waiving intellectual property protections for novel coronavirus vaccines to help developing nations suffering from the ongoing pandemic.
"China fully understands and supports the developing world's demand for an IPR waiver for COVID-19 vaccines," Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said in Beijing.
Asked about China's stand on the issue, Zhao told reporters at a foreign ministry press conference that "China will continue to make a contribution to the fairness and accessibility of vaccines in developing countries."
The IlTrade-related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) proposal was initially submitted by India and South AfricaAffica at WTO.
The US Trade representative said in a statement earlier this month that the administration of President Joe Biden will support the intellectual property waiver "in sendee of ending this pandemic.
The proposal has now been co-sponsored by Kenya, Eswatini, Mozambique, Pakistan, Bolivia, Venezuela, Mongolia, Zimbabwe, Egypt, the African Group, the Least Developed Countries Group, and most recently Maldives, Fiji and Namibia — a total of 60 WTO members.
Read More at http://www.uniindia.com/china-supports-india-s-patent-waiver-for-covid-vaccine-proposal/india/news/2397823.html