Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi, together with foreign ministers from Afghanistan, Pakistan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh, vowed further cooperation in tracking COVID-19 mutation, vaccines and economic recovery in a joint statement on Wednesday.

The statement was released after Tuesday's virtual meeting on the fight against COVID-19 attended by the foreign ministers from South Asian countries.

The foreign ministers noted with satisfaction the concerted and productive efforts made by their countries since the start of COVID-19 to combat the virus and promote economic recovery in the spirit of overcoming challenges through cooperation and mutual assistance.

Reiterating their firm support to WHO's due role in the global cooperation against COVID-19, the foreign ministers acknowledged that tracing the origin of the virus is a matter of science and a global mission and expressed opposition to politicizing the issue.

Talking about cooperation in vaccines, they agreed that vaccines should be distributed in accordance with the principle of equity and justice and expressed that "vaccine nationalism" will hinder the global efforts to defeat COVID-19.

They reached consensus in deepening Belt and Road cooperation, opening their borders under the premise of pandemic prevention and control for smooth trade, and keeping the industrial and supply chains stable and secure.

They also agreed to discuss the possibility of mutual recognition of digital "health codes."

To push forward practical cooperation in relevant fields, China announced its decision to establish a China-South Asian Countries Emergency Supplies Reserve, set up a China-South Asian Countries Poverty Alleviation and Cooperative Development Center, and hold a China-South Asian Countries E-commerce Cooperation Forum on Poverty Alleviation in Rural Areas. The other participating countries expressed support.

The foreign ministers agreed to make these mechanisms inclusive, transparent, sustainable and demand-driven.