ISLAMABAD: State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi has announced China would donate additional shots of coronavirus vaccine to Pakistan by March 31.
In a telephonic conversation with his Pakistan counterpart Shah Mahmood Qureshi late on Monday, Yi said over a hundred countries had approached China to get the shots but the country would prioritise the fulfillment of Islamabad’s needs, considering the ideal bilateral ties between the two nations.
The conversation encompassed the latest Covid-19 situation as well as matters of mutual interests, a Foreign Office (FO) press statement said.
The conversation comes days after Pakistan received a second Chinese donation of 500,000 doses of Sinopharm vaccine, bringing the country’s total supply to 1 million shots. “These doses will ensure a smooth continuation of our vaccine drive, currently under way for senior citizens,” Minister of State for Health Dr Faisal Sultan said.
On Monday, Qureshi told Yi Pakistan had formulated a comprehensive strategy to vaccinate its people against the contagious disease for which the country would require further doses. At this, the latter assured the former to provide more shots by end of this month.
Qureshi thanked his Chinese counterpart for the “goodwill gesture”.
He said the Chinese assistance to the world, particularly Pakistan, during the challenging situation of the pandemic was exemplary.
Qureshi further told Yi that Pakistan was taking all precautionary measures including the smart lockdown in line with the vision of Prime Minister Imran Khan.
He thanked Yi for expressing good wishes, through a letter, for the prime minister who had tested positive on Saturday.
Both the leaders had a detailed discussion on bilateral ties and multiple cooperation besides agreeing to keep up the high-level contacts between the two countries.