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China looks to boost its GCC interests with 'vaccine diplomacy'

Eager to lift the lockdowns and limit the effect of the coronavirus pandemic on their economies, several Gulf Cooperation Council states are participating in trials of a vaccine produced in China, which seems to focus on countries that hold strategic interest for Beijing or are part of its Belt and Road Initiative.
BEIJING, CHINA - SEPTEMBER 24: Syringes and boxes  of the potential COVID-19 vaccine CoronaVac are seen on a table at  Sinovac Biotech where the company is producing their potential COVID-19 vaccine CoronaVac during a media tour on September 24, 2020 in Beijing, China. Sinovacs inactivated vaccine candidate, called CoronaVac, is among a number of companies in the global race to control the coronavirus pandemic.  The company is running Phase 3 human trials in four countries and ramping up production to 300 m

As encouraging news has poured in recently regarding the success of various coronavirus vaccines, recent reports indicate a COVID-19 vaccine developed in China is one of several to show promise. And beyond the clear public health benefit provided by a successful vaccine, Beijing is looking to employ a strategy of “vaccine diplomacy” to boost its international clout — including with Middle Eastern countries.

While a number of vaccines are under development in China, four of these have entered late-stage testing in clinical trials. This accounts for roughly one-third of leading COVID-19 vaccines in the final stage of development globally.

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