China is set to provide up to two billion doses of coronavirus vaccines globally this year. The announcement was made on Thursday in a written message from Chinese President Xi Jinping to a newly launched forum on COVID-19 vaccine cooperation. 

The first meeting was attended by some medical manufacturers and representatives from the United Nations and some countries. Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi said the only way for the world to escape the virus's grip is through solidarity and cooperation. He made the remarks while presiding over the forum's first meeting.