THE development of the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) vaccine in China is moving forward as its government reassured the Philippines and other members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) that they will remain a priority once the vaccine is approved.

In a virtual roundtable interview on Saturday with The Manila Times, Philippine Ambassador to China Jose Santiago Sta. Romana said they were in constant communication with the Sinovac Biotic Ltd. and the Chinese National Pharmaceutical Group Co. Ltd. (Sinopharma, developers of Sinovac and Sinopharm vaccines, for possible clinical trials in the country.