This year marks the 10th anniversary of the Belt and Road Initiative. China Central Television (CCTV) broadcast the documentary A Road to Prosperity from Oct 11 to Oct 16 to show the progress and achievements under the BRI.

The fourth episode, Hand in Hand, displayed the efforts of China National Pharmaceutical Group Co Ltd (Sinopharm) in the global fight against the COVID-19 pandemic and the building of a community with a shared future for mankind. 

Sinopharm’s efforts in the global fight against the pandemic shown in the documentary [Photo/sinopharm.com] 

From curing malaria with artemisinin to fighting against Ebola in Africa, China has always risen to the challenge of epidemics. Faced with the outbreak of the COVID-19, China joined hands with its BRI partners to tackle the challenge together. 

Vaccines safeguard lives. China was racing against time in the development of COVID-19 vaccines. It engaged in vaccine research cooperation with BRI partner countries. They were the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Jordan, Egypt, Peru, Morocco and Argentina. 

Sinopharm’s efforts shown in the documentary [Photo/sinopharm.com] 

Sinopharm cooperates with BRI partner countries in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. [Photo/sinopharm.com] 

After more than four months of efforts involving seven countries and nearly 70,000 participants in clinical trials, the world's first inactivated COVID-19 vaccine was finally approved and registered for market in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). China and the UAE jointly named it "Hayat-Vax", which means "Seed of Life" in Arabic. 

The clinical trial [Photo/sinopharm.com] 

Subsequently, COVID-19 vaccines developed and produced by several other countries hit the market. However, vaccines remained a scarce resource. Faced with frequent virus mutations, some developing countries in urgent need of vaccines struggled to obtain sufficient vaccine supplies. 

BRI countries once again took swift action. China engaged in joint production with countries such as Indonesia, Egypt and Serbia to promote the fair distribution of vaccines.

Vaccines distributed to more developing countries [Photo/sinopharm.com] 

China, along with its BRI partners, broke barriers through joint production. Through close cooperation, BRI countries have promoted the building of a global community of health for all. 

A Road to Prosperity [Photo/sinopharm.com]