MEXICO CITY, Nov. 27 (Xinhua) -- Jamaica received 200,000 doses of China's Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccine recently, half of which were donated by China with the remainder purchased by the Jamaican government, the Jamaica Information Service said Thursday.
"These greatly appreciated Sinopharm vaccines demonstrate the value of the evolving relationship which Jamaica shares with China and is in keeping with the collective efforts to respond to an ever-changing environment as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic," Prime Minister Andrew Holness said at an official handover ceremony in Kingston.
Chinese Ambassador to Jamaica Tian Qi said the act represented the goodwill of the Chinese government and its people in supporting Jamaica's response to the pandemic.
"We are glad to continue supporting our Jamaican friends and sharing our technology. Chinese medicines have been widely used in the world and have proven safe and effective. We are sure it will assist Jamaica's efforts to promote its vaccination program for the safety and health of the Jamaican people," Tian said.
Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Kamina Johnson Smith expressed her thanks to Ambassador Tian "for what we have been able to achieve as partners and as friends between our countries."
"We are looking forward to our continued friendly cooperation and strategic engagement in the interest of our people as we seek to recover from this pandemic, recognizing that no one is safe until everyone is safe," she said. Enditem
