Mongolia receives COVID-19 vaccine donation from China

ULAN BATOR - Mongolia on Monday night received 300,000 doses of Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccine donated by China.

The vaccine donation was welcomed at the Chinggis Khaan International Airport in Mongolia's capital city of Ulan Bator by Mongolian Deputy Prime Minister Sainbuyan Amarsaikhan and Chinese Ambassador to Mongolia Chai Wenrui.

"On behalf of the Mongolian government and people, I would like to express my deep gratitude to China, our friendly neighbor and comprehensive strategic partner, for extending its helping hand during this difficult time," said Amarsaikhan.

"There is a Mongolian saying that goes, 'Close neighbors have one life, far away neighbors have one mind.' Since the start of the COVID-19 outbreak, Mongolia and China have provided each other with material and emotional support, which is a real example of how neighboring countries are overcoming difficulties together," he said.

For his part, Chai said, "The current global vaccine supply and demand are very tight. China has overcome difficulties when its own vaccine supply is not sufficient, and has not hesitated to give 300,000 doses of vaccine to Mongolia free of charge, which shows that China attaches great importance to China-Mongolia relations and the friendship between the two peoples."

The Chinese ambassador expressed confidence that these vaccines will contribute to the protection of people's lives and the fight against the pandemic in Mongolia.

Mongolia is planning to vaccinate at least 60 percent of its 3.3 million people, or all adults in the country, against the coronavirus, with 20 percent of them to be vaccinated under COVAX, a global initiative to ensure quick and equal access to vaccines against the virus, according to the country's health ministry.

The Asian country is expected to launch a nationwide COVID-19 vaccination campaign on Tuesday.

As of Monday, the country recorded 2,693 COVID-19 cases, with six deaths.