New batch of China-donated COVID-19 vaccine arrives in Yangon

A batch of 736,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccine, the first shipment of 2 million doses donated by the Chinese government to Myanmar, arrived at the Yangon International Airport on July 22. 

Chinese Ambassador to Myanmar Chen Hai held a handover ceremony and signed the handover certificate with Myanmese Minister of Health and Sports Thet Khaing Win via video link.

Chen said that the arrival of more than 700,000 doses of China-donated COVID-19 vaccine in Yangon is a token of the friendship between the peoples of China and Myanmar and reflects the spirit of the China-Myanmar community with a shared future. 

Since the outbreak of COVID-19, China and Myanmar have carried out fruitful cooperation in pandemic prevention. Before the outbreak of the third wave of the pandemic in Myanmar, the Chinese government had provided 500,000 doses of vaccine to Myanmar in a timely manner, said Chen.

At present, the pandemic continues to spread in Myanmar. Considering Myanmar's practical difficulties and needs, the Chinese government has decided to provide the country with 2 million doses of the vaccine and shipped the first batch in the shortest possible time. He said he hopes the assistance can help with Myanmar's fight against the pandemic and safeguard the health and safety of the Myanmese people.

The Communist Party of China and Chinese government always uphold the concept of "putting people and their lives first" in the anti-pandemic fight, and China's assistance to Myanmar in its fight against the pandemic is for the good of the country and the people of Myanmar. 

In response to the severe pandemic that the people of Myanmar are experiencing, China shares their pain and is further coordinating with enterprises and other parties to speed up the provision of liquid oxygen, oxygen generators and other urgently needed anti-pandemic materials to Myanmar. China's Yunnan province has overcome difficulties to open a special channel along the China-Myanmar border for anti-pandemic supplies. China is also helping Myanmar to procure anti-pandemic supplies at the most favorable price and the fastest speed. 

Statistics, though incomplete, show that in recent days alone, thousands of respirators, hundreds of oxygen generators, over 100 tons of liquid oxygen, more than 4,000 oxygen cylinders, hundreds of thousands of masks and other supplies urgently needed by Myanmar have been shipped from China. 

Chen said he hopes that the above-mentioned measures will provide strong support for Myanmar in overcoming the new wave of the pandemic.

Recently, the number of new confirmed cases along the China-Myanmar border has increased, and the pressure on pandemic prevention and control in Yunnan has grown significantly. China and Myanmar are stepping up efforts to carry out joint epidemic control and prevention, said Chen, adding that he hopes and believes that Myanmar will continue to extend help to China in border control and pandemic prevention and control.

Thet Khaing Win said that Myanmar is very honored to receive the further vaccine donated by China, and sincerely thanked the Chinese government and people for their help as well as their efforts for the timely arrival of vaccine. The Myanmese side will start the vaccination of Chinese vaccine as soon as possible, believing it to be effective in helping with the prevention and control of COVID-19 in Myanmar.

Since the outbreak of the virus, Myanmar and China have effectively carried out anti-pandemic cooperation. China has provided a large amount of anti-pandemic materials to Myanmar, sent medical experts to Myanmar to share its experience, and provided great assistance to Myanmar in procuring Chinese vaccines and transporting materials across the border; all of these steps reflect the deep friendship between the two countries, for which Myanmar is deeply grateful, said Thet Khaing Win.

He added that the two countries are also strengthening joint efforts to prevent the spread of COVID-19 across their border. All countries in the world need to unite to fight the pandemic, and Myanmar is willing to continue its friendly cooperation with China, including in anti-pandemic efforts.

In addition to the vaccines that arrived this time, another 1.264 million doses of vaccine donated by China will arrive in Yangon in the near future. The first batch of 2 million doses of Sinovac vaccine procured by Myanmar from China will also arrive in Myanmar on July 23. Chinese vaccines and other supplies will bring strong help to the people of Myanmar who are suffering from the impact of the pandemic.