China announces it will provide 500,000 doses of Covid-19 vaccine to Nepal. With this, Nepal will become the second country in the neighbourhood to receive Chinese doses as a grant.
Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi announced the donation during a telephone conversation with his Nepalese counterpart Pradeep Gyawali on Friday evening, according to a brief readout from Nepal’s foreign ministry.
Wang also said China “would accord priority to Nepal in vaccine cooperation” and Gyawali thanked the Chinese government for the “support of Covid-19 vaccine and appreciated China’s stance to make it global public goods,” the readout said.
Earlier, The Chinese Embassy in Kathmandu said in a statement that China has decided to provide 300,000 doses of Covid-19 vaccine under grant assistance to Nepal, which would benefit 150,000 Nepali citizens.
“China and Nepal are good neighbours, good friends and good partners. Facing whatever challenges like the earthquake and the pandemic, the two countries have always supported and helped each other through thick and thin,” the statement said.
Foreign Minister Gyawali thanked the Chinese government for the support of Covid-19 vaccines, the statement added.
Last month India provided as grant one million Vaccine with which frontline health workers and other personnel like cleaners and ambulance drivers are being vaccinated across the country.
Following the Chinese embassy announcement on Sunday, the Department of Drug Administration had said that it has asked for the necessary documents from the producer of the Chinese vaccine before it gives approval.
The Nepalese government had requested the supply of Indian-made Covid vaccines last year and the request was reiterated during a recent visit to India by Gyawali. As a close neighbour, Nepal was one of the first countries to receive vaccine grants under the Indian government’s “Neighbourhood First” coverage.
India additionally helped practice Nepal’s well being employees, docs and professionals for efficient administration of Covid-19, immunisation and chilly chain administration.
