Trinidad and Tobago PM thanks China for vaccine aid

Keith Rowley, prime minister of Trinidad and Tobago, said China has long given selfless help to the economic and social development of Trinidad and Tobago, and that especially since the outbreak of the pandemic, China has provided his country with several batches of medical supplies and shared its experience in fighting the pandemic.

PORT OF SPAIN -- Keith Rowley, prime minister of Trinidad and Tobago, thanked China for donating of COVID-19 vaccines to the Caribbean nation on Wednesday.

Speaking at the vaccines' handover ceremony, Rowley said China has long given selfless help to the economic and social development of Trinidad and Tobago, and that especially since the outbreak of the pandemic, China has provided his country with several batches of medical supplies and shared its experience in fighting the pandemic.

All of that has played an important role in the country's full vaccination, its pandemic control as well as economic recovery, and has shown China's global pledge as a responsible nation and the close partnership between the two countries, he added.

Chinese Ambassador to Trinidad and Tobago Fang Qiu said China's assistance to the people of Trinidad and Tobago fully demonstrates their brotherhood of helping each other and overcoming difficulties together, and is another vivid example of the comprehensive cooperative partnership between the two countries.

China is willing to strengthen cooperation with Trinidad and Tobago in such fields as pandemic prevention and control, public health and economic recovery, the ambassador said, adding that both sides will work together to overcome the pandemic and achieve development goals.

As of Wednesday, Trinidad and Tobago has accumulated 17,669 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 331 deaths from the disease.