CIDCA, Bhutan’s MOH hold virtual handover ceremony for China-donated anti-pandemic materials

A handover ceremony of China-donated anti-pandemic materials to Bhutan was held on April 21 via video link.

Bai Bin, director-general of the First Department of Regional Affairs of the China International Development Cooperation Agency (CIDCA), and Rinchen Dorji, director-general of the Department of Medical Supplies and Health Infrastructure of the Ministry of Health of Bhutan, co-chaired the ceremony, which was also attended by officials from the two sides' related departments and officials from the two countries' embassies in India.

Bai said China and Bhutan, connected by mountains and rivers, are neighbors with deep traditional friendship. Since the outbreak of COVID-19, China has provided anti-pandemic materials and vaccine assistance to help Bhutan effectively prevent and control the pandemic.

While giving anti-pandemic assistance, China has continued to promote cooperation between the two sides in the field of human resources development, Bai said, adding that China is willing to work together with Bhutan to promote more results in development cooperation.

Dorji thanked the Chinese government and people for their generous assistance to the government and people of Bhutan, saying that the anti-pandemic materials and vaccines provided by China are timely and highly efficient, helping Bhutan effectively cope with the pandemic challenges.

Dorji said Bhutan is willing to continue to strengthen its cooperation with China.

The anti-pandemic materials provided by China to Bhutan mainly include testing reagents and oxygen machines, which arrived in Thimphu, capital of Bhutan, in several shipments in mid-April.