On Tuesday, the European Union's executive said the EU has offered free COVID-19 vaccines to China, as infections there surged following Beijing's relaxation of its "zero-COVID" policies.
A spokesman for the European Commission told reporters at a regular briefing that China has not yet responded to the offer. He did not specify the number of vaccines offered by the EU or its manufacturers.
"In view of the COVID situation in China, (Health) Commissioner Stella Kyriakides has reached out to her Chinese counterparts to offer EU solidarity and support," he said.
"This includes public health experts as well as variant-adapted EU vaccine donations."
Asked if Beijing would accept the EU's offer, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Mao Ning avoided a direct response, telling Reuters that China's vaccination rate and treatment capacity continue to rise and that its supplies are "adequate".
She said China is open to strengthening solidarity and cooperation with the international community to better meet the challenges of the epidemic, although it can "meet the demand of anyone who wants to be vaccinated."
China has so far insisted that only Chinese-made vaccines - which are of the inactivated virus type and do not rely on Western mRNA technology - be used for its population.
Last month, Germany shipped 11,500 BioNTech (22UAy.DE) COVID vaccines to German companies and embassy and consulate locations in China for use by German citizens there.
A source familiar with the situation said at the time that talks were underway with other EU governments about connecting it to citizens of other nationalities.
EU health experts are set to meet on Tuesday to discuss the COVID situation in member states before another meeting on Wednesday where EU government representatives will discuss a coordinated approach by the bloc to travellers from China.
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