Is US-China Cooperation Possible on African Health Issues?

 The Hill published on 21 August 2022 a commentary titled "Can the US and China Cooperate on African Health Priorities?" by Georgia Nichols, Department of Education African languages fellow, and Mark C. Storella, Boston University and former US ambassador to Zambia.  

In spite of the tension in US-China relations, the authors argue that the US should leave the door open to China for cooperation on African health issues, especially the African Union's effort to develop an African Medicines Agency.  

China's COVID-19 Vaccine Deliveries Virtually Ended in 2022

Bridge's most recent "China COVID-19 Vaccine Tracker" demonstrates that China's global vaccine deliveries virtually ended early in 2022.  While 46 African countries have received Chinese vaccine, the total number of vaccines delivered to Africa since the beginning of the program has constantly remained low.  

Out of the 196 million doses sold to African countries and 70 million pledged donations to Africa, China has delivered 122 million, of which only 28 million have been donations.  

Comment:  While China was quick to respond to Africa's COVID-19 vaccine needs and did a great job of obtaining publicity for its pledges and deliveries, its actual deliveries, especially of donated vaccine, have fallen far short of earlier announcements.  

China May Become Africa's Primary Supplier of COVID-19 Vaccine

 Deutsche Welle posted on 5 February 2021 an article titled "Coronavirus Vaccines Could Cement Africa's Relationship with China" by Silja Frohlich.

China has signaled its intention to deliver free COVID-19 vaccine to Africa while Western countries hoard their supplies.  This will have the effect of further strengthening Sino-African ties.

China Daily OpEd Calls for New Approach to Foreign Aid

China Daily published on 28 July 2020 an oped titled "New Landscape for China's Foreign Aid" by Sun Jingying, Institute of World Economics and Politics and the National Institute for Global Strategy at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. The oped is significant as China Daily is an organ of the Communist Party of China.

The author urges that because of Sino-US friction and the relentless spread of COVID-19, China needs to adopt a more proactive approach to foreign aid.  The author makes three recommendations.

First, China should focus its foreign aid on vaccine development, traditional Chinese medicine, and productive investment, and actively respond to demands for prevention and control assistance, production development, and economic recovery in the post-pandemic era.

Second, following withdrawal of the United States from the World Health Organization, China should participate in the design of a global health governance system.

Third, China should help alleviate countries' debt burden, especially those in Africa, by focusing on debt relief, boosting their economies, and increasing their incomes.