China has provided over 1.5 billion COVID-19 vaccine doses to 106 countries and four international organizations this year, the most in the world, Luo Zhaohui, head of the China International Development Cooperation Agency (CIDCA), said at a press conference on Tuesday.

Answering questions from Chinese and foreign media, CIDCA officials elaborated on China's efforts in international assistance and cooperation against the COVID-19 pandemic.

In April, when the Delta variant triggered a major resurgence of COVID-19 in China's neighboring countries Nepal, Afghanistan, Laos, Cambodia, Myanmar and Sri Lanka, China immediately responded to their needs by providing oxygen tanks, oxygen generators and ventilators, Luo said.

So far, China has sent 80 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines and a dozen teams of experts to neighboring countries in need, besides holding over 1,000 video training sessions for their medical staff, Luo added.

China is doing all it can to help African countries affected by COVID-19 to recover from economic difficulties, said Zhou Liujun, a vice chairman at CIDCA. This includes sending 120 batches of test kits and ventilators and providing 50 African countries with COVID-19 vaccines. Teams of Chinese experts are assisting with anti-pandemic efforts in 17 African countries.

In addition, China actively supports African countries' economic recovery through debt relief and cooperation projects, while helping the countries in training talents and sharing experience with local hospitals, according to Zhou.

As of now, there are more than 244 million COVID-19 cases worldwide and 4.96 million deaths, with a 2-percent death rate, noted Deng Boqing, a vice chairman at CIDCA. "It is a critical time that requires countries around the world to help one another and get through this hard time together," Deng said.

This year, China will strive to provide the world with 2 billion doses of COVID-19 vaccines and an additional 100 million doses for developing countries, Deng said. The country will also donate $100 million toward COVAX and continue to promote international vaccine cooperation, he added.