China promises its Mekong neighbours priority access to a coronavirus vaccine developed in China

Premier Li Keqiang tells the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation that China will provide neighbours with resources to fight the pandemic

China offers annual hydrological data to better combat floods, drought and the effects of climate change

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The Mekong River bordering Thailand and Laos is seen from the Thai side in Nong Khai. China says it will provide annual hydrological data to other Mekong nations to better combat climate change, as well as floods and drought. Photo: Reuters

Published: 5:30pm, 24 Aug 2020Updated: 8:42pm, 25 Nov 2020

China stepped up its vaccine diplomacy on Monday with Premier Li Keqiang promising five Southeast Asian partners priority access to a coronavirus vaccine while also pledging to share water control information for flood-hit nations along the Mekong River.

Li made the remarks at a videoconference of the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation (LMC) leaders’ meeting, a cooperation platform between China, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam.

LMC partners would be given priority access to the vaccine after China had fully developed it and put it into use, Li said, according to a report from state-run China Radio International.

China is developing two of the 30 candidate vaccines currently in clinical evaluation worldwide, according to the latest figures from the World Health Organisation.

China will also set up a dedicated public health programme under the framework of the LMC special fund, launched in 2016 to finance cooperation projects between the six nations.

Li had been expected to speak with leaders from all countries except Laos, according to plans for the call released by state media last week, including Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, Myanmar President Win Myint, Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha and Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc.