Xi calls for closer COVID-19 vaccine cooperation

The Chinese president is calling for closer cooperation on COVID-19 vaccine.

Xi Jinping has delivered a keynote speech at the Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference.

"It is important that we bolster international cooperation on the research and development, production and distribution of vaccines and increase their accessibility and affordability in developing countries so that everyone in the world can access and afford the vaccines they need."

The president also reiterated that China will honor its commitment of making vaccines a global public good, and do more to help developing countries defeat the virus.

Xi, Putin congratulate 9th meeting of China-Russia dialogue mechanism between ruling parties

The Chinese and Russian presidents have respectively sent congratulatory letters to the ninth meeting of the dialogue mechanism between the ruling parties of the two countries.

Xi Jinping says the long-term institutionalized exchanges between the two parties have consolidated political and strategic mutual trust and promoted mutually beneficial cooperation in all dimensions between the two countries.

He calls on both sides to play an underpinning role in safeguarding international fairness and justice, maintaining world peace and stability, and promoting common development and prosperity.

Vladimir Putin says he hopes participants of the meeting will carry out constructive and effective work to further consolidate the friendship and mutual understanding between the two countries and the two peoples.

Xi says China to cooperate with Indonesia against "vaccine divide"

President Xi Jinping says China will help Indonesia build a regional vaccine production center, and jointly resist the "vaccine divide."

In a phone conversation with his Indonesian counterpart Joko Widodo, Xi Jinping said China has included foreign citizens on its soil, including those from Indonesia, in its inoculation plan.

He called on Indonesia to provide active support for Chinese nationals in the Southeast Asian country.

He also called on both sides to uphold multilateralism, safeguard fairness and justice and promote global climate governance.

Xi says China to work with Saudi Arabia to build fair climate governance regime

President Xi Jinping says China is willing to work with Saudi Arabia and other members of the international community to build an equitable climate governance regime that is cooperative and beneficial to all.

In a phone conversation with Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince, the Chinese president also called for concerted efforts to push for a comprehensive and effective implementation of the Paris Agreement on climate change.

Chad's army says President Idriss Deby has died

A spokesperson for Chad's army says President Idriss Deby has died while visiting troops on the front line.

The announcement was made just hours after Deby was declared the winner of a sixth term in office.

His campaign said on Monday that the president was headed to the front lines to join troops battling "terrorists".

Deby came to power in 1990 and is one of Africa's longest-serving leaders.

China plans to approve first foreign COVID-19 vaccine: media

The Wall Street Journal has reported that China is planning to approve its first foreign COVID-19 vaccine before July.

The report says clinical-trial data of the vaccine made by BioNTech has been under scrutiny and the domestic distribution of the shot is expected to be given green light within the next ten weeks.

According to the U.S. newspaper, the German drug maker has agreed to cooperate with Shanghai Fosun Pharma to deliver 100 million doses of its vaccine to China this year, pending approval.

Sinovac vaccine 80 pct effective against COVID-19-related death: Chilean gov't study

A recent real-world study in Chile shows China's Sinovac COVID-19 vaccine is 80 percent effective against death from the disease.

Figures from the Chilean government also show that the Chinese jab is 67 percent effective in preventing symptomatic infection, 85 percent effective in preventing hospitalizations and 89 percent in preventing patients from entering intensive care units.

Number of Chinese cities with over 1M urban population reaches 93

Official data shows 93 cities in China have had their urban population reach one million. 

The number has increased over four times in 40 years.

Jiangsu and Shandong, the second and third biggest provinces of China by GDP, each have ten cities that have over one million urban people.

Former U.S. Vice President Walter Mondale dies at 93

Walter Mondale, the former U.S. vice president under President Jimmy Carter and the 1984 Democratic presidential nominee, has died at the age of 93.

Before serving as vice president during Carter's one-term presidency, Mondale was U.S. senator representing Minnesota for 12 years, and much earlier, the Minnesota attorney general for four years. He also served as U.S. ambassador to Japan during the Bill Clinton administration.