Philippines has received the Sinovac Vaccines donated by China

On 28 February 2021, a Chinese military Y-20 heavy cargo plane carrying 600,000 doses of Sinovac COVID-19 vaccines donated by China arrived in Manila Colonel Jesus Villamor Airbase. This is the first batch of COVID-19 vaccines that the Philippines has received. The turnover ceremony were graced by Philippine President Rodrigo Roa Duterte and Chinese Ambassador Huang Xilian.


In a televised speech, President Duterte said, "I convey my sincere gratitude to the Chinese people and the government of China for this gesture of friendship and solidarity – the hallmark of the Philippines-China partnership". "Receiving the CoronaVac vaccines from China makes another step forward in the Philippines' ongoing fight against COVID-19." The President also encouraged Filipinos to get vaccinated at the soonest possible time and be a partner in preventing the further spread of the disease.


In ending his speech, the President said, "at the end of the year when everything has settled down, I intend to make a short visit to China to just shake hands with President Xi Jinping and personally thank him for this donation."


Ambassador Huang Xilian first expressed his delight to witness the turnover of the 500,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccines donated by Chinese government to the Philippine government and also 100,000 doses donation from the Chinese Military to the Armed Forces of the Philippines. The 600,000 vaccines are made by China's Sinovac. Sinovac vaccines have been inoculated in many countries and its safety and efficacy has been well tested. I hope that the vaccines will help kick off the Philippines' mass inoculation campaign to curb the pandemic and allow Filipinos to return to normal life at the earliest.


Ambassador Huang pointed out that President Xi in his phone conversation with President Duterte last June reiterated that as a friendly neighbor, China certainly considers the Philippines' need to COVID-19 vaccines as a priority. Despite the increasing domestic need of vaccines, Chinese government and the Chinese military have decided to donate vaccines to the Philippine side, showing the solidarity, friendship and partnership between two countries and peoples and also signifying the intent of both militaries in fighting against COVID-19 and deepening our defense cooperation.


Ambassador Huang added that as a good friend, neighbor and partner of the Philippines, China sincerely hopes that the Philippines could control the pandemic to embrace economic recovery and normal life at the earliest date. China will continue to do its utmost to provide support to Philippines until it secures the final victory. Huang also believed that the friendship and partnership between two countries will continue to grow and prosper as both sides fight against the pandemic hand in hand.


This batch of CoronaVac vaccines produced by China's Sinovac, was airlifted by the Chinese PLA Air Force Y-20 heavy military cargo aircraft.


Philippine Executive Secretary Salvador C. Medialdea, Chief Implementer and Vaccine Czar Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr., Foreign Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr., Health Secretary Francisco T. Duque III, Defense Secretary Delfin Negrillo Lorenzana, PCOO Secretary Martin Andanar, Senator Christopher Bong Go and Chief of Staff of AFP Lieutenant General Cirilito Elola Sobejana and Chinese Embassy officials also attended the ceremony.