In a message to Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday, Rouhani congratulated the government and people of China on the country’s 71st founding anniversary.

The Iranian president also said the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic, despite the problems it created, provided an opportunity to manifest China’s power in helping the common fate of humanity and for closer cooperation between Iran and China.

“As the two countries have worked together in the battle against the disease (COVID-19) from the outset of the pandemic, I express my country’s readiness for participation in the production of a COVID-19 vaccine with China,” the Iranian president added.

Rouhani further hailed the cultural commonalities and the history of relations between Iran and China, saying their comprehensive cooperation results from their determination to oppose unilateralism.

He noted that finalization of the 25-year strategic cooperation agreement between Tehran and Beijing would mark a major step in the fulfillment of common interests and contribution to international peace and stability.

China has four COVID-19 vaccines in the final stage of clinical trials. At least three of those have already been offered to essential workers under an emergency use programme launched in July.

Phase 3 clinical trials were proceeding smoothly and the vaccines could be ready for the general public in November or December, CDC chief biosafety expert Guizhen Wu said in an interview with state TV late on Monday.

Wu, who said she has experienced no abnormal symptoms in recent months after taking an experimental vaccine herself in April, did not specify which vaccines she was referring to, Reuters reported.

A unit of state pharmaceutical giant China National Pharmaceutical Group (Sinopharm) and US-listed Sinovac Biotech SVA.O are developing the three vaccines under the state’s emergency use programme. A fourth COVID-19 vaccine being developed by CanSino Biologics 6185.HK was approved for use by the Chinese military in June.

Sinopharm said in July that its vaccine could be ready for public use by the end of this year after the conclusion of Phase 3 trials.

Global vaccine makers are racing to develop an effective vaccine against the virus which has killed more than 925,000 people. Leading Western vaccine makers pledged earlier this month to uphold scientific study standards and reject any political pressure to rush the process.