The Chinese Foreign Ministry on Tuesday said Brazil's halting of the clinic trial of the Sinovac COVID-19 vaccine was unrelated to the vaccine and noted that Sinovac will continue to communicate with Brazil on this matter.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin made the remarks when responding to a question about Brazil's suspension of the Sinovac COVID-19 vaccine trial due to adverse effects.

"We have noticed that Beijing's Sinovac Biotech Co., Ltd. has already responded to relevant reports. According to the Butantan Institute, a partner of Sinovac in Brazil, the incident has nothing to do with the vaccine," Wang said.

Earlier on Tuesday, Sinovac issued a statement on its official website, stressing that "the clinical study in Brazil is strictly carried out in accordance with GCP requirements and we are confident in the safety of the vaccine."

Sinovac's COVID-19 vaccine has shown no serious adverse effects during late-stage trials in Brazil, said Dimas Covas, director of the Butantan Institute on Tuesday.