China-donated COVID-19 vaccine arrives in Benin

Beninese Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Aurélien Agbenonci and Chinese Ambassador to Benin Peng Jingtao signed a handover certificate on behalf of their respective governments for China's COVID-19 vaccine donation to Benin on March 21.

Peng, accompanied by Beninese Health Minister Benjamin Hounkpatin, went to the international airport in Cotonou, economic capital of the country, to welcome the vaccines donated by and purchased from China.

[Photo/Chinese embassy in Benin]

On behalf of the president, government and people of Benin, Agbenonci expressed heartfelt thanks to China and praised China's generous performance in international cooperation against the pandemic.

He said that China has supported Benin's vaccine purchase request and actively provided generous assistance, which once again reflects the ever-strengthening friendship between the two countries.

Over the past few years, China and Benin have always put the interests of their people at the center and conducted extensive cooperation with fruitful results and full vitality. Their anti-pandemic cooperation vividly demonstrates the breadth and depth of the two sides' cooperation in various fields, said Agbenonci.

China has provided various forms of help for Benin to achieve positive results in fighting the pandemic. The Chinese vaccine will play an important role in comprehensively limiting the impact of the pandemic on the health and safety of Beninese people, and in supporting the country to realize economic recovery and social development.

[Photo/Chinese embassy in Benin]

Hounkpatin said that the Chinese government has been providing strong support to Benin since the outbreak of the pandemic. He praised China for always assisting Benin with the most urgently-needed supplies at critical moments and helping it achieve positive results in fighting the pandemic.

He said the day marks an important moment in Benin's fight against the pandemic and a milestone in the friendship between the two countries. The Beninese government will make good use of the vaccine and do its utmost to protect its people and Chinese nationals in Benin from the impact of the pandemic.

[Photo/Chinese embassy in Benin]

Peng said that since the outbreak of COVID-19, the solid health cooperation between the two countries can be regarded as a good example. The vaccines donated by and purchased from China demonstrate the profound friendship and extensive cooperation between the government and people of the two countries, pushing the anti-pandemic cooperation to a new height.

Peng appreciated the active and effective pandemic prevention and control measures taken by the Beninese government, which have effectively controlled the COVID-19 pandemic's spread.

He thanked the Beninese government for its help to Chinese nationals in Benin and for actively protecting their health and safety.

He said that he hopes the Chinese vaccines will make important contributions to Benin's economic and social recovery and development and that China is willing to join hands with the nation to build a China-Benin and China-Africa community with a shared future.

[Photo/Chinese embassy in Benin]