China-donated COVID-19 vaccine arrives in Papua New Guinea

A batch of Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccine donated by the Chinese government to Papua New Guinea (PNG) arrived in Port Moresby, capital of PNG, on June 23.

Chinese Ambassador to PNG Zeng Fanhua, PNG's National Planning Minister Rainbo Paita and National Pandemic Response Deputy Controller Daoni Esorom attended the handover ceremony at the airport. 

Zeng said that China's vaccine donation to PNG is a positive implementation of China's important commitment of making Chinese vaccines a global public good. Since the outbreak of the pandemic, China and PNG have worked together in the fight against the pandemic, and the friendship between the two countries has been further deepened. 

He said he believes that China's vaccine donation will help the PNG people overcome the pandemic as soon as possible. China is willing to continue to strengthen exchanges and cooperation with PNG in the fields of pandemic prevention and public health governance, and promote the building of a community of health for all.

On behalf of Prime Minister James Marape and the PNG government, Paita thanked the Chinese government and people for donating vaccine to PNG. 

Paita said the donation once again highlights that China, as an important partner of PNG, actively supports PNG's efforts to combat the COVID-19 pandemic. The PNG side has always attached great importance to the development of relations with China and will continue to promote practical cooperation between the two countries in various fields, including health. PNG authorities will work together with the Chinese side to implement the follow-up vaccination work of Chinese vaccine for the benefit of the PNG people.