Chinese commerce minister called for promoting multilateralism and efforts to combat COVID-19 during a virtual World Trade Organization (WTO) ministers' meeting on Friday.

Representatives from China, the U.S. and the EU also participated in the gathering, which focused on economic recovery after the coronavirus pandemic, among other topics. Wang Wentao, Chinese minister of commerce, said the country would continue to practice multilateralism, and all parties should keep their markets open to maintain global supply chains.

Wang also stressed China's efforts at promoting their COVID-19 vaccine as a global product.

"China is fulfilling its commitment to provide vaccines to other countries as a global public product. It has also joined COVAX in order to support equitable global vaccine distribution via multilateral approach," said Wang.

2021 marks the first year of China's 14th Five-Year Plan and the 20th anniversary of China's accession to the WTO, he said. China is actively constructing a new development pattern and will implement wider, broader and deeper opening to the outside world to provide more opportunities for the world.

Wang pointed out that as a major and responsible developing country, China will continue to make more contributions to the WTO commensurate with its own level of economic development and capabilities.

The meeting came as China's vaccine being used in many other countries worldwide. Despite the pandemic, many have been taking strict prevent and control measures and working to boost economic recovery.