Chinese President Xi Jinping pledged $2 billion on Monday to support global efforts to fight the coronavirus pandemic and with economic and social development in affected countries, especially developing countries.

Xi made the announcement during a speech at a virtual event opening the 73rd session of the World Health Assembly, the decision-making body of the World Health Organization. 

He also reportedly said China will make self-developed COVID-19 vaccines available as a public good to help with efforts to fight the crisis. He also said he supports a global review of the response to the pandemic led by the World Health Organization (WHO). He had previously opposed calls for such investigations. 

The president said that China supports the idea of a comprehensive review of the global response to COVID-19 after it is brought under control to sum up the experience and address deficiencies.

The virus, which is thought to have originated in Wuhan, China, has infected more than 4.7 million people and killed 315,822 globally, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University.