Cuba, China Sign Accord to Develop Vaccine

Beijing, Sep 28. -China and Cuba have signed on Wednesday an accord for the joint development of an acellular vaccine against pertussis (whooping cough), as part of celebrations for the 51st anniversary of their bilateral relations.Hualan Biological Bacterin Company general manager Lin Xiaojun, and Boris Acevedo, representative of the Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, signed the document.

Prior to the signing, Bai Jing Yu, second division chief of the high-technology industry department of the National Commission for Development and Reform, and the Cuban Economic Counselor Rigoberto Enoa recognized the importance of this vaccine for each country.

They also spoke of the possibility of creating future markets in other nations.

This project shows the existing strong links between China and Cuba in biotechnology, one of the most active fields of the bilateral cooperation, they said.

Representatives from Hualan Biological Bacterin, one of the most important Chinese companies in the production of vaccines and the first to developing a vaccine against the avian flu, attended the ceremony, held at the Cuban embassy in Beijing. (Prensa Latina)