China-donated COVID-19 vaccines arrive in Laos

China-donated COVID-19 vaccines arrived in the Lao capital Vientiane on Feb 8, making Laos one of the first countries to receive COVID-19 vaccines donated by the Chinese government.

Lao Minister of Health Bounkong Syhavong and Chinese Ambassador to Laos Jiang Zaidong received the vaccines produced by the Chinese company Sinopharm as well as injectors at the Wattay International Airport.

Bounkong, on behalf of the Lao government, appreciated the strong support of the Chinese government and people in Laos' fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. He said that the China-donated vaccines are urgently needed by the Lao people and medical workers. This batch of vaccines will greatly bolster Laos' efforts to curb the pandemic’s spread and the confidence of the Lao people and medical workers in winning the fight.     

The assistance truly reflects the China-Laos comprehensive strategic partnership and community with a shared future, and shows that the two sides are good neighbors, friends, comrades and partners, said Bounkong.

The China-made vaccines are safe, effective and easy to use, and have won recognition from the international society, added Bounkong.

Jiang said that China and Laos always stand closely together in difficult times in the spirit of a community with a shared future. Laos gave China sincere assistance as a brother when China was in the crucial moments of fighting the pandemic.

Currently Laos is facing huge pressure in pandemic prevention and control and urgently needs to recover its social economy, said Jiang.

China putting Laos on the list of the first batch of countries to receive Chinese vaccine donations is not only a physical measure to promote the two sides’ community with a shared future but also a vivid practice to co-build a global community of health for all. The assistance will support Laos to better control the pandemic and recover its economy, said Jiang.

Phankham Viphavanh, vice-president of Laos, attended the handover ceremony of the vaccines on Feb 8.

As of Feb 7, Laos had reported 45 confirmed cases of COVID-19, 41 of which had been released from hospital after being cured, and no deaths, according to the statistics of the Lao national epidemic prevention and control committee.