The second batch of Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccines donated by the Government of China to the Government of Rwanda arrived yesterday at Kigali International Airport. Mr.Wang Jiaxin, Commercial Counselor of the Embassy, and Dr. Albert Tuyishime, Head of Department at Rwanda Biomedical Centre, received the vaccines at the airport and attended the handover ceremony.
Mr. Wang commended at the ceremony that, virus knows no borders, adversity reveals true friendship. In the middle of August this year, Rwanda received 200,000 doses of Chinese Sinapharm vaccines, which helped Rwanda push forward its national vaccination plan. Only two months later, another 300,000 doses of Sinapharm vaccines arrived, at a time when the two countries celebrate the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between them, demonstrating the two countries’ deep traditional friendship of sharing weal and woe, through thick and thin over 50 years.
China is willing to join hands with Rwanda to take the opportunity of celebrating the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties, and also the upcoming session of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, to strengthen unity and coordination, further benefit the two peoples, and deepen China-Rwanda relationship even further in the next half century of cooperation.
Dr. Tuyishime on behalf of the Rwandan government and people expressed sincere gratitude for China’s consistent support to Rwanda. He said, as a precious gift from China, the newly arrived vaccine is a major boost to Rwanda’s mass inoculation campaign, which planned to immunize at least 60 percent of the target population. Rwanda stands ready to work with China together to lift their ties to a new height in the post-pandemic era.
Mr.Wang and Dr. Tuyishime signed the handover certificate on behalf of the two governments at the ceremony. (End)