Chinese envoy confirms donation of 500K Covid-19 vaccines to PH

MANILA – Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Huang Xilian on Monday confirmed that half a million doses of vaccine for the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) will be donated to the Philippines by the Chinese government.

This, after China’s State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi pledged that China would donate 500,000 doses of Covid-19 vaccine to the Philippines in support of its immunization program in a statement on Saturday.

In a virtual presser, Huang said the vaccines to be donated are yet to be discussed with officials of the Philippine government, with no decision yet on the particular brand of vaccine to be given.

Pledge of support

Wang’s visit and meeting with President Rodrigo Roa Duterte on Saturday was part of China’s pledge of support to the Philippines in addressing the Covid-19 pandemic.

Part of this pledge, he said, was for China to help the Philippines in its “anti-pandemic efforts” for “two years at most,” help in post-pandemic economic recovery, and in safeguarding the sovereignty of the Philippines.

On Friday, Wang arrived in the Philippines for a two-day official visit after an invitation from Foreign Secretary Teodoro Locsin.

According to the Department of Foreign Affairs, Duterte and Wang discussed the country’s Covid-19 pandemic response, economic revitalization, among other concerns during a courtesy call in Malacañang on Saturday.