China provides South Asian countries assistance in obtaining COVID-19 shots

China said on Tuesday (Apr 27) that it had offered help to South Asian countries in accessing COVID-19 vaccines, but India did not attend a regional video conference on the matter, although it is currently suffering the world’s worst wave of the pandemic.

China’s State Councillor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi hosted the conference attended by Afghanistan, Pakistan, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, to which China’s neighbour and regional rival India was also invited, the Chinese foreign ministry said.

There was no immediate comment from the Indian government.

Wang told his conference counterparts that Beijing was willing to set up emergency supply reserves with South Asian countries in the fight against COVID-19, a ministry statement said.

Earlier in the day, a ministry spokesman said that the meeting was open to other countries in the region when asked why India – which has been locked in a tense Himalayan border dispute with China in recent months – was not on the list of attendees.

China expresses its “deep sympathy for the raging epidemic in India and extends its sincere condolences to the Indian people”, Wang said in a ministry statement, adding that Beijing was ready to provide support and assistance at any time.