On January 19, a handover ceremony for the new batch of COVID-19 vaccines donated by the Chinese government to Myanmar took place at Yangon International Airport. In attendance were H.E. Mr. Chen Hai, Chinese Ambassador to Myanmar, U Thet Khaing Win, Myanmar's Union Minister for Health, U Soe Thein, Chief Minister of Yangon Region, and Mr. Tan Shufu, Economic and Commercial Counselor of the Chinese Embassy in Myanmar.
Before the handover ceremony, Ambassador Chen Hai, Union Minister U Thet Khaing Win, U Soe Thein and Counselor Tan Shufu together witnessed the arrival of 3 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines at the airport.
At the handover ceremony, Chen Hai said that China and Myanmar are close neighbors with profound friendship and close geographic connection. Shortly after Myanmar expressed its hope for a new batch of COVID-19 vaccines, China immediately hit the ground running and overcame various difficulties such as inadequate flights to ensure that the vaccines could be transported to Myanmar as early as possible. In addition, China opened up a green channel for transporting important pandemic prevention and control materials such as liquid oxygen to Myanmar during the period when Delta virus was still raging, donated emergency supplies, such as oxygen generators and other materials, to Myanmar, helped Myanmar to produce vaccines locally, and continued to assist Myanmar in carrying out the work on pandemic prevention and control. China-aided Myanmar National Center of Disease Control and Medical Training Center are progressing smoothly. These efforts are, a practical actions to implement the spirit of a China-Myanmar community with shared future.
Chen Hai said that China has always put people and life first. China has vaccinated 1.4 billion people with more than 3.4 billion doses of COVID-19 vaccines, with a full vaccination rate of over 90% for its entire population. Despite several global outbreaks of COVID-19, China has maintained the lowest infection rate and mortality rate in the world. With the significantly weakened pathogenicity and virulence of Omicron mutant and the further improvement of its capabilities in medical treatment, pathogen detection and vaccination, China took the initiative to adjust its anti-pandemic measures according to the actual situation, in an attempt to protect people's life and health to the greatest extent and minimize the impact of the pandemic on economic and social development. Finally, it has turned out that China’s adjustment to its pandemic prevention and control policy has been scientific, accurate and effective. As the overall pandemic control situation in China is improving, its economic and social vitality has been further released. China's role as the global "stabilizer" and "engine of growth" of economic recovery will be further highlighted. China will continue to deepen cooperation with Myanmar in various fields including health, promote Myanmar's economic and social development and improvement of people's livelihood, and accelerate the process of building a China-Myanmar community of a shared future.
U Thet Khaing Win said that since the outbreak of the pandemic, China had provided about 61 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines to Myanmar. The 3 million doses of vaccines will be used for school-age children and the elderly with chronic diseases to strengthen vaccination. China-aided Myanmar National Center of Disease Control and Medical Training Center are scheduled to be completed by the end of 2023. Myanmar also expressed its thanks to China for its support and help.
Myanmar and China are close neighbors with profound friendship and close geographic connection. Since the establishment of diplomatic relations more than 70 years ago, the two countries have been supporting and helping each other, and bilateral relations have been developing and improving, which has become a model of mutually beneficial cooperation between countries. A few days ago, Myanmar and China resumed opening border crossings to contribute to economic and social development. The two countries held talks on carrying out joint anti-pandemic efforts in border areas and will continue to maintain close cooperation. Apart from in the field of health, Myanmar and China have worked together in many other fields while upholding the concept of building a community with shared future.
Most of COVID-19 vaccines adopted by Myanmar are from China. Thanks to this fact, the recent diagnosis rate in COVID-19 is low, and the mortality rate is next to zero, which demonstrates the good effect of China’s vaccines in reducing the severe disease rate and mortality rate. At present, the infection rate of COVID-19 in China has passed its peak, and the pandemic has been brought under control, which should be attributed to the accurate, scientific and effective treatment and protection of the Chinese government. There is every reason to believe that with joint efforts, Myanmar and China will make new headway in their friendly cooperation in the coming year.
At the ceremony, Mr. Chen Hai and U Thet Khaing Win signed and exchanged the handover certificates of the vaccine assistance project.