China-donated COVID-19 vaccine arrives in Philippines

A shipment of COVID-19 vaccine donated by China arrived in Manila, capital of the Philippines, on Feb 28. This was the first COVID-19 vaccine to reach the country.

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte welcomed the vaccine at the airport. The country’s high-level officials from the army and government, and diplomats from the Chinese Embassy in the Philippines, attended the vaccine handover ceremony.

Duterte extended a warm welcome to the first vaccine shipment from China and said that it was a key step in the Philippines' fight against the COVID-19 pandemic and a milestone in the Philippines-China partnership. China's vaccine assistance demonstrates the friendship and solidarity between the two countries.

Duterte repeatedly thanked the Chinese government and people for their sincerity and goodwill, saying that he hopes that the vaccine can be distributed to the Philippine people as soon as possible to help the country to defeat the pandemic and return to normal as soon as possible.

The Philippine president added that he hopes to visit China as soon as conditions permit and express his gratitude to the Chinese government and people in person.

Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Huang Xilian said that the teams of China and the Philippines have been working day and night to implement the important consensus reached by the two heads of state, so that the Chinese vaccine will benefit the Philippine people as soon as possible.

It is reported that the Philippine government plans to start its vaccination campaign on March 1.