Another shipment of China-donated COVID-19 vaccines arrives in Ecuador

A new shipment of COVID-19 vaccines donated by China to Ecuador arrived in the latter's capital Quito on May 17.

Ecuador's Vice-President Alfredo Borrero, Foreign Minister Juan Carlos Holguin, Vice-Minister of Public Health Miguel Moreira and Chinese Ambassador to Ecuador Chen Guoyou attended the handover ceremony held at the Mariscal Sucre International Airport in Quito.

Chen said in his speech that the Chinese government has always been committed to building a global community of health for all, and has actively assisted Ecuador's anti-pandemic fight through donating vaccines and encouraging enterprises to export. 

More than half of the total number of vaccines received and used in Ecuador were from China, playing an important role in building an immunization wall and aiding in economic and social recovery, Chen said.

This new shipment of vaccines is a further reflection of the two countries' commitment to help each other and overcome difficulties together, Chen said, adding that as long as the pandemic continues, cooperation between the two sides in the field of vaccines will not stop.

On behalf of Ecuador's President Guillermo Lasso, Borrero expressed  heartfelt thanks to China for its generous donation of vaccines and said that since the outbreak of COVID-19, Chinese vaccine companies have exported a large amount of vaccines to Ecuador, while the Chinese government has also provided valuable support. 

At present, Chinese vaccines account for 53 percent of the total amount of vaccines received by Ecuador, which has laid a solid foundation for the country's anti-pandemic fight and economic recovery, Borrero said.

Borrero said in the future, Ecuador is willing to continue to take COVID-19 vaccine cooperation as an opportunity to promote the two sides' friendly relations and achieve greater results in practical cooperation in various fields.