China's top respiratory disease specialist Zhong Nanshan said Sunday that China intends to work with Russia on the COVID-19 pandemic and conduct vaccine clinical trials together.

Zhong speaks at the conference. (Photo: Young Pai)

Zhong made the remarks in Guangzhou, capital of Southeast China’s Guangdong Province, at a conference on academic exchanges on disease prevention and control of COVID-19 attended by Chinese and Russian experts, researchers and medical workers. He mentioned that he has forged bonds of deep friendship with colleagues and friends in the Russian scientific community.

Zhong pointed out that this conference is a good opportunity for communication. He said he pays great attention to the epidemic situation of both China and Russia, and they have a lot to learn from each other.

Zhong said Russia’s case fatality rate is relatively low, at about 1.7 percent, and some Russian techniques and strategies are worth learning. “As for China, we have our own unique ways, especially with our traditional Chinese medicine,” he noted.

Zhong added that in recent news, Russia's vaccine research and development is progressing rapidly. At present, the epidemic is still developing quickly in some countries, and we should seize this opportunity to learn from Russia. “We have plans with Russia to jointly conduct COVID-19 vaccine clinical trials,” Zhong said. 

(Compiled by Ma Xiaoxi)