China’s Xi pledges $2 billion to help fight coronavirus

Chinese President Xi Jinping said that his country will provide $2 billion over two years to help other countries respond to the impact of the coronavirus pandemic.

The leader of the world’s second-largest economy, where the disease known as Covid-19 emerged late last year, was speaking via video conferencing at the opening ceremony of a key World Health Organization meeting.

“China will provide 2 billion U.S dollars over two years to help with Covid-19 response, and with economic and social development in affected countries, especially developing countries,“ Xi said, according to an official English translation.

Xi added that when a vaccine for the disease is available, it “will be made a global public good.” Some Chinese companies are at the forefront of development and testing for a Covid-19 vaccine.