Xi announces 1 million COVID vaccines under grant

 President Bhandari holds talks with Chinese President

Kathmandu, May 26

Chinese President Xi Jinping has announced that China will provide 1 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines to Nepal as grant assistance.

Chinese Ambassador to Nepal Hou Yanqi tweeted on Wednesday that during a phone conversation with Nepali President Bidya Devi Bhandari, Xi had made the announcement.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) said that the Chinese President announced that China would provide additional 1 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine to Nepal as grant assistance. Earlier,

“President Xi also assured that Nepal will remain on a priority of China in vaccine support and cooperation,” MoFA said in a statement.

According to it, acknowledging the difficulties Nepal has been facing due to the second wave of the pandemic, Xi expressed full support of his Government to Nepal in its fight against COVID-19.

President Bhandari expressed gratitude to China for its continued support to Nepal in its fight against COVID-19 by providing life-saving medicines, medical equipment and supplies.

She thanked her Chinese counterpart Xi for the new announcement of additional vaccine cooperation to Nepal at this crucial hour and expressed confidence that the cooperation will continue as the country battle against the coronavirus pandemic, stated the MoFA.

While appreciating President Xi’s public announcement that anti-COVID-19 vaccines should be global public goods, President Bhandari also thanked China for providing Nepal with 800,000 doses of anti-COVID vaccines earlier.

She also sought facilitation of the Chinese government for the procurement of COVID-19 vaccines from China.

Earlier on 20 May, the northern neighbour had provided 3,500 oxygen cylinders and 10 ventilators. It had also announced to send 40 portable ventilators, 20 automated analyzers, 10 DR machines, 20 portable ultrasound and 30 anesthesia machines.

Likewise, it announced additional grant assistance of 650 oxygen concentrators, 20,000 oxygen nasal cannulas and 20,000 oxygen face mask.

Similarly, governments of China’s Sichuan province and Tibet Autonomous Region, and Red Cross Society of China provided support including surgical face masks, thermometers, liquid oxygen, ventilators and oxygen cylinders.

Earlier on Tuesday, President Bhandari wrote a letter to Indian President Ram Nath Kovind to help Nepal in providing anti-COVID-19 vaccines.

A process of procuring vaccines from India was interrupted due to the rapid surge in the cases there.

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 27 May 2021.