United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has called the vaccine production capacity of India as the "best asset" that the world has today, referring to the ongoing global vaccination campaign to tackle the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to the ANI report, the UN chief said, "I know that  in India there is a very high level of production of Indian developed vaccines. We are in contact with Indian institutions for that. We strongly hope that India will have all the instruments that are necessary to play a major role in making sure that a global vaccination is campaign is made possible."

"I think that the production capacity of India is the best asset that the world has today. I hope the world understands that it must be fully used," he said.

On the need to democratize access to medicines, Guterres said, "I would say a very important element on the democratization of access to medicines all over the world. I appealed once again today for the licenses to be made available in order for companies around the world to be able to produce some of the vaccines that already exist."

UN chief's statement comes as India has gifted over 55 lakh doses of coronavirus vaccine to neighbouring countries including Myanmar.

This week, India sent supplies of the COVID-19 vaccine to Myanmar.