MINSK, 19 February (BelTA) – China has sent some 100,000 COVID-19 vaccines to Belarus. The plane with the cargo has left the Chinese capital for Minsk, BelTA learned from the Belarusian embassy in Beijing.
“As part of the agreement reached between Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko and China President Xi Jinping during a telephone conversation on 26 January 2021, China has donated Belarus some 100,000 vaccines against the new coronavirus infection produced by Sinopharm. Following coordinated work of the Ministries of Foreign Affairs of Belarus and China, the embassies of the two countries, the Healthcare Ministry of Belarus, Sinopharm and other departments, the vaccine was sent to Belarus on 19 February,” reads the statement.
The vaccine is delivered by Air China on a free-of-charge basis.
The vaccine produced by Sinopharm is the first vaccine approved in China to enter the market by the State Pharmaceutical Administration of the People's Republic of China and is already actively used within the country. According to China's estimates, the COVID-19 vaccine developed by Sinopharm showed 79.34% efficacy in tests. To date, in addition to China, the vaccine has been approved for use in more than ten countries worldwide: the UAE, Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan, Iraq, Serbia, Morocco, Hungary, Pakistan, and others.
“This step by the Chinese side is another vivid confirmation of the brotherhood established between the Republic of Belarus and the People's Republic of China,” the diplomatic mission said.
In January-February 2020, Belarus was the first country to provide humanitarian medical aid to China. Subsequently, Chinese friends helped Belarus with medical supplies. In April 2020-January 2021, more than 115 tonnes of various medical products were sent to Belarus to help combat coronavirus.
Cooperation with China in vaccine issues will be continued.
Photos courtesy of the Belarusian embassy in China
