COVID-19 vaccines donated by China to Cote d'Ivoire arrive in Abidjan

A batch of COVID-19 vaccines donated by China to Cote d'Ivoire arrived in the west African country's capital city Abidjan on June 23.

Cote d'Ivoire's Minister of Health, Public Health and Universal Health Coverage Pierre Dimba, Chinese Ambassador to Cote d'Ivoire Wan Li, and other officials, attended the handover ceremony held at the Abidjan International Airport.

[Photo/Chinese Embassy in Cote d'Ivoire]

Dimba said that the government of Cote d'Ivoire attaches great importance to the prevention and control of the COVID-19 pandemic and is accelerating its vaccination work. The arrival of the China-donated vaccine is like a "timely rain". It is another positive outcome of the friendly cooperation between Cote d'Ivoire and China, which is conducive to the steady progress of the vaccination plan. Cote d'Ivoire would like to express its sincere thanks for this, he added.

He said the vaccine provided by China's Sinopharm is safe and effective and has been authorized by the World Health Organization for emergency use. Cote d'Ivoire will organize a public vaccination drive in the near future to ensure the effective use of the doses.

[Photo/Chinese Embassy in Cote d'Ivoire]

Wan said that since the outbreak of the pandemic, China and Cote d'Ivoire have been supporting each other. The vaccine assistance to the Cote d'Ivoire government again reflects the traditional friendship, solidarity and mutual assistance between the two countries, and is a concrete example of China's commitment to making the COVID-19 vaccine a global public good and realizing the accessibility and affordability of vaccines in developing countries.

Wan said he hopes that this batch of vaccine can give effective help for the anti-pandemic efforts of Cote d'Ivoire's people.

China will continue to support Cote d'Ivoire's fight against the pandemic and its economic recovery. China is willing to strengthen cooperation with Cote d'Ivoire in public health and other fields, push China-Cote d'Ivoire friendly cooperative relations to a new level, and contribute to building an even closer China-Africa community with a shared future and a global community of health for all, said Wan.