29 March 2021, Kathmandu
Chinese Ambassador Hou Yanqi has attended the ceremony on the arrival of the China-Aid COVID-19 Vaccines to Nepal. Addressing the ceremony today ambassador Yanqi shared that- “I am here happy to witness that under the personal care of the leaders of two countries and with the joint efforts of the concerned authorities of both sides, 800,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccine donated by the Chinese government have stridden over the snow-topped Himalayas and arrived in Kathmandu today.
This batch of vaccines is full of profound friendly feelings from the Chinese people to the Nepali people. It is another solid testimony to the two people standing in solidarity and helping each other in trying times. It also fully demonstrates the high level of China-Nepal strategic cooperative partnership and is a vivid illustration and active practice of China-Nepal community with a shared future.
COVID-19 is the common enemy faced by human beings. President Xi Jinping announced solemnly that COVID-19 vaccine development and deployment in China, when available, will be made a global public good. This will be China’s contribution to ensuring vaccine accessibility and affordability in developing countries. We are committed to fulfilling President Xi’s promise by actively conducting international cooperation against the pandemic, acted as a committed front-runner in promoting international vaccine cooperation and a steadfast advocate for equitable vaccine distribution, with a view to promoting the building of a global community of health for all.
So far, China has donated or is donating COVID-19 vaccines to 80 countries including Nepal and is exporting vaccines to 43 countries. China has also joined COVAX, under which China has undertaken to provide an initial 10 million doses for emergency use in developing countries explicitly. This batch of vaccines is produced by Sinopharm. It has the efficacy against COVID-19 as over 80%, the positive conversion rate of neutralizing antibody as 99.52%, and the efficacy of preventing severe cases as 100%. More than 100 million doses of Chinese vaccines have been jabbed domestically and abroad. The safety and efficacy of Chinese vaccines have been fully tested. And Chinese vaccines have been well received by the recipient countries and people.
Nowadays Nepal is taking preemptive measures to prevent a possible second wave of coronavirus. We believe that this batch of vaccines will contribute to the Nepali government’s vaccination campaign and help prevent and control the pandemic and revive the economy. I would also like to take this opportunity to express our sincere gratitude to the understanding and support provided by the Nepali government and people towards the fight against pandemic by the Chinese people. The Chinese side is willing to continue to promote vaccine cooperation with Nepal and facilitate its procurement and use of vaccines to help Nepal win the battle against the pandemic at an earlier date and contribute to the return to normal of economic and social activities in Nepal.
