Xi Says China Ready to Strengthen Cooperation With Bolivia on COVID-19 Vaccines

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL –  China is interested in strengthening cooperation with Bolivia on COVID-19 vaccines, Chinese President Xi Jinping said Thursday, January 28th, in a phone conversation with his Bolivian counterpart, Luis Arce.

In the past 36 years since China and Bolivia established diplomatic relations, they have made steady progress in bilateral ties, Xi said.

Especially during the Morales administration, the two sides have seen close high-level exchanges, rapid expansion of economic and trade cooperation and coordination in multilateral affairs, Xi added.

Since the COVID-19 outbreak, China has provided Bolivia with material and technical assistance to fight the epidemic through various channels, he said. China will continue supporting Bolivia in the anti-epidemic fight within its capacity.

Xi stressed that China has always treated Bolivia as a good friend and a good partner, and attached great importance to the China-Bolivia strategic partnership. China supports Bolivia in exploring a development path that fits its national conditions, and in continuously raising the “better life” index of the Bolivian people, Xi said.

China is willing to enhance policy communication and coordination, share governance experience and learn from each other, deepen political mutual trust and support each other, Xi said. He called on the two sides to review their practical cooperation to make better plans, and jointly promote construction of the Belt and Road Initiative.

China is glad to see Bolivia making full use of such platforms as China International Import Expo to promote its quality products with characteristics, Xi said, adding that China supports businesses of the two sides in expanding cooperation in agriculture, mining, infrastructure construction, telecommunication and other fields, and promoting cultural and people-to-people exchanges and local cooperation in accordance to the epidemic situation.

The two sides should conduct close cooperation within the United Nations and other multilateral frameworks, jointly safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of developing countries and work to build a community with a shared future for mankind, Xi said.

Xi said he believes that with joint efforts, the China-Bolivia strategic partnership will continue to achieve new results.

For his part, Arce said that Bolivia and China have forged an unbreakable traditional friendship. Bolivia cherishes the brotherly friendship with China and sincerely hopes to consolidate and build closer bilateral relations, he said.

Bolivia is ready to better synergize its development strategies with China, deepen cooperation in various fields and elevate their strategic partnership to a new level, he said.

Bolivia is willing to work with China to actively build the Belt and Road and promote the building of a community with a shared future for mankind, Arce said.