FM Qureshi, Chinese counterpart discuss Covid vaccine supply

Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi on Tuesday discussed with his Chinese counterpart the supply of COVID-19 vaccine from China to Pakistan during March-April 2021 to reinforce Pakistan’s capacity to effectively and expeditiously fight the pandemic.

In a telephonic conversation with State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi, Qureshi underscored that Pakistan had devised an elaborate plan of vaccination across the country as part of its endeavours to combat the pandemic.

The foreign minister also thanked for Premier Li Keqiang’s thoughtful message wishing Prime Minister Imran Khan a speedy recovery from COVID-19.

Read China to gift 0.5m more Covid vaccine doses to Pakistan

State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi reassured that China will continue to firmly support Pakistan in its fight against the pandemic and accord highest priority to the requirements of its time-tested friend.

Qureshi expressed gratitude to China for earlier gifting Pakistan 1.5 million doses of Chinese vaccine, underlining that it had played a pivotal role in protecting precious human lives.

Both foreign ministers reaffirmed their resolve to further deepen Pakistan-China “All-Weather Strategic Co-operative Partnership”.

The two sides also agreed to maintain high-level exchanges.

Earlier this month, both foreign ministers also inaugurated a virtual ceremony that was held simultaneously in Islamabad and Beijing to mark the commencement of events across Pakistan and China to celebrate 70 years of establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries.