COVID-19: China will actively work to expedite vaccine delivery to Pakistan
Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Hua Chunying. File photo
China says it'll actively coordinate with Chinese companies to hurry up export of vaccines to Pakistan
Hua Chunying says China and Pakistan are working together to beat difficulties since the outbreak of pandemic
FM Qureshi had said that Pakistan is predicted to receive first shipment of the COVID-19 vaccine from China by Jan 31
BEIJING: China announced on Friday that it'll provide Pakistan a "batch" of coronavirus vaccine as aid.
“In order to support our brothers and sisters in Pakistan, the Chinese government has decided to supply a batch of vaccines as aid and can actively coordinate with the relevant Chinese enterprise to hurry up export of vaccines to Pakistan,” said Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Hua Chunying during an appointment on Friday.
The spokesperson shared that the Chinese State Councilor Wang Yi had informed Pakistan’s secretary of state Shah Mahmood Qureshi of the choice made by the Chinese government.
Hua said Islamabad and Beijing are “all-weather strategic cooperative partner”. She added that both countries also had a “fine tradition of mutual support and assistance”.
“One can always calculate a ready hand from the opposite in times of need,” said the Chinese official. She said that China and Pakistan are working together to beat difficulties since the outbreak of the pandemic.
The spokesperson also reminded the reporters that this year both the countries are going to be observing the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties.
“As the 2 foreign ministers said within the call , our time-tested rock solid friendship has become the foremost valuable strategic asset to each side . regardless of how the international landscape evolves, China-Pakistan friendly cooperation will continue moving forward,” said Hua.
Pakistan to urge first shipment of Chinese vaccine by Jan 31
On Thursday, the secretary of state had said that Pakistan is predicted to receive the primary shipment of the COVID-19 vaccine from China by January 31, 2021.
"Pakistan held fruitful talks with China with reference to obtaining the coronavirus vaccine," Shah Mehmood Qureshi told a media briefing within the federal capital, praising the National Command and Operations Centre (NCOC) for doing a "great job during the pandemic".
"I had a lengthy discussion and spoke of Pakistan's requirements. Then, Prime Minister Imran Khan advised me to interact in further interaction with them [China] keeping in mind the sensitive situation, time, and Pakistan's requirements.
"I'm glad to inform you that I had a telephonic conversation with Chinese secretary of state . I wish to offer this happy news to the state that China has promised that, God-willing, it'll send Pakistan 500,000 doses of the [coronavirus] vaccine by January 31," he said, adding that it had been an act of "good faith" which Beijing planned to send more by February 2021.
Pakistan needs 'additional 1.1m doses'
The secretary of state lauded the COVID-19 patients for his or her courage within the fight against the deadly virus. "Pakistan successfully fought the coronavirus [pandemic]," he added.
China, Qureshi added, directed Pakistan to "send them our plane and airlift the vaccine; this is often excellent news , a positive development".
He said he expressed gratitude to Beijing and "informed them that our requirements are quite that [500,000 doses]; we'd like a further 1.1 million doses".
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