Dhaka-Beijing vaccine cooperation a role model in region: Chinese envoy

ZOOMBANGLA DESK: Chinese Ambassador Li Jiming today said the vaccine coproduction effort between Bangladesh and China has become a ‘role model’ of COVID inoculation cooperation in the region.

“After the (today’s) successful signing ceremony, the vaccine cooperation between our two countries has become a role model in this region,” he said.

The envoy was speaking at the signing ceremony of memorandum of understanding (MoU) among Bangladesh, China and Incepta Pharmaceutical on coproduction of Sinopharm vaccine in Bangladesh.

At the bilateral level, the ambassador said China is one of the most reliable partners of Bangladesh in terms of vaccine cooperation.

He mentioned that China has provided 2.1 million doses of Sinopharm vaccine as gift to Bangladesh, 3.4 million doses under the COVAX facility, and 8 million doses as part of an arrangement of a
large-scale commercial purchase.

He said vaccines should be shared with greater intensity and speed to make them accessible to and affordable for developing countries around the world as quickly as possible, especially the least
developed countries.

China acted quickly to provide vaccines to fellow developing countries in need, Li said.

“I wish to underscore that in carrying out vaccine cooperation, China has no political motive or economic calculations, and China does not attach any political strings,” said the Chinese envoy.

Li further said the only purpose of China is to make vaccines a global public good that truly serves the people’s interests and help the world defeat the pandemic at an early date.

Although China’s vaccine production capacity is yet to reach a sizeable scale and domestic demand for vaccination has been rising sharply, the envoy said, China has already donated, and is donating, vaccines to over 100 countries, through bilateral or international channels and is exporting vaccines to over 60 countries.

“(China) will continue increasing production capacity steadily, providing more accessible and affordable vaccines to meet the needs of developing countries,” he said.

He observed that vaccine cooperation requires greater solidarity and sense of responsibility, full mobilization of governments, businesses and international organizations.

The Chinese ambassador thanked Bangladesh for respecting science, multilateralism and justice and hoped that the anti-pandemic cooperation between Dhaka and Beijing will only become stronger and
more fruitful.

Under the MoU, Incepta, a Bangladeshi pharmaceutical company will bring in bulk and make bottling, labeling and finishing of the jabs here locally.

Health Minister Zahid Maleque, Chinese Ambassador Li Jiming, and Incepta Chairman Abdul Muktadir signed the MoU on behalf of their respective sides in presence of foreign minister Dr AK Abdul Momen. (BSS)