Republic of Congo receives 3rd shipment of China-donated COVID-19 vaccine

The third shipment of China-donated COVID-19 vaccines arrived in Brazzaville, capital of the Republic of Congo, on the evening of Jan 20.

Chinese Ambassador to the Republic of Congo Ma Fulin, Chief of Staff at the Congolese Ministry of Health Jean-Ignace Tendelet, Chief of Staff at the Congolese Ministry of International Cooperation Max Henri Monka, and other officials attended the handover ceremony at the airport.

Tendelet expressed sincere gratitude to the Chinese government on behalf of the Congolese government. He said that the series of assistance to Africa announced by China at the 8th Ministerial Conference of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) have once again manifested the resolve of Africa-China solidarity and mutual support. China's continuous vaccine aid to Congo is a major part of bilateral anti-pandemic cooperation, a manifestation of the profound friendship between the peoples of both countries, and will contribute significantly to Congo's fight against the pandemic, he added.

Monka said the bilateral relationship and cooperation between China and Congo have deepened since the establishment of diplomatic ties in 1964. Since the outbreak of COVID-19, China has donated multiple shipments of vaccines and anti-pandemic medical supplies, which have been greatly appreciated by the Congolese people. The Chinese vaccine has been validated by the World Health Organization as safe and effective. He called on the Congolese people to proactively receive vaccinations in order to achieve herd immunity at an early date.

Ma said China proposed nine programs for China-Africa cooperation and announced to donate 1 billion more doses of vaccines to Africa at the opening ceremony of the 8th Ministerial Conference of the FOCAC, adding that this shipment of donated vaccine is a concrete measure to honor this solemn commitment. The COVID-19 pandemic is a challenge faced by all countries, and China is willing to work with Congo side by side in the fight against the pandemic and contribute to the building of a China-Africa community with a shared future in the new era, he said.