BELGRADE, Sept. 9 (Xinhua) -- Construction of the first Chinese COVID-19 vaccine production facility in Europe started in Serbia on Thursday.

File photo: Agencies

The factory is planned to produce 30 million vaccine doses annually starting in April 2022, and is expected to supply Serbia and several countries in the region and Europe with the Chinese-developed Sinopharm vaccines.

The foundation stone for the new factory was laid by Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic in the presence of Chinese Ambassador Chen Bo, according to a press release from the president's office.

Vucic said that he was proud that Serbia, together with partners from China and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), was "trying and seems to be able to solve some global problems."

"This is not a partnership of interest but a proof of friendship," Vucic said.

Back in January this year, Serbia started a mass vaccination campaign with the Sinopharm jab, which has been most widely used among Serbian citizens along with products from other manufacturers.

In June, Serbia started to produce Russia's Sputnik V COVID-19 vaccine at the Institute of Virology, Vaccines and Sera "Torlak" in Belgrade.