2nd batch of China-donated COVID-19 vaccines arrives in El Salvador

The second batch of China-donated COVID-19 vaccines was handed over to El Salvador at the airport of San Salvador, capital city of the central American country, on December 19, 2021.

In his speech at the handover ceremony, Francisco José Alabí, health secretary of El Salvador, conveyed heartfelt thanks on behalf of the Salvadoran government to the Chinese government and people for the donation of additional COVID-19 vaccines.

With the help of the Chinese government, El Salvador has smoothly carried out its inoculation program, put the COVID-19 pandemic under effective control, and made great success in the protection of the Salvadoran people's health.

Alabí said that China has extended huge assistance to El Salvador in the building of many welfare projects that will fundamentally improve the livelihoods of the Salvadoran people, stimulate the development of El Salvador's economy, education, culture and tourism, and bring tangible benefits to the Salvadoran people.

Ou Jianhong, Chinese ambassador to El Salvador, said that the COVID-19 pandemic is still raging across the world and its mutant strains have brought even greater threat to the health of people everywhere. As vaccines are still the most powerful weapon in the fight against the contagious disease, China has honored its commitment to the building of a community with a shared future for mankind by providing over 120 countries and international organizations, including El Salvador, with 1.85 billion doses of vaccines and offered medical supplies to over 150 countries and 14 international organizations.

Ou noted that under the leadership of President Nayib Bukele El Salvador has made great strides in its inoculation program and its vaccination rate is higher than all other countries in the region. Ou believes that the two sides will eventually defeat the communicable disease with joint efforts.

At the handover ceremony, Ou and Alabí exchanged certificates in commemoration of the arrival of the Chinese COVID-19 vaccines to El Salvador.

Those in attendance of the ceremony included other senior officials from the Salvadoran ministries of health and foreign affairs.