Nepal to get 500,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccine from China
China will provide 500,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccines to Nepal on a grant basis, officials in Katmandu said on Saturday. It will be the first batch of vaccine aid for the Himalayan nation from China. During a telephonic conversation with his Nepali counterpart Pradeep Gyawali on Friday evening, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi assured that China would accord priority to Nepal in vaccine cooperation.
China initially offered 300,000 doses but later increased the number
During the phone conversation with Gyawali, Wang said China attaches great importance to Nepal's urgent need for COVID-19 vaccines and has decided to provide aid to the country. Initially, China had offered 300,000 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine which are expected to benefit 150,000 Nepali people. Though, during the conversation between the two foreign ministers, China increased the grant assistance to 500,000 doses.
Move seen as Beijing's efforts to step-up vaccine diplomacy
Sinopharm is yet to submit all necessary documents to the Nepal government. Without the green signal from the government, the BIBP-CorV vaccine cannot be brought to Nepal. China's move to supply the coronavirus vaccine to Nepal is seen as Beijing's efforts to step-up its vaccine diplomacy amid projections from experts that India could become a key player in distributing the jabs to the world.
India has already sent one million doses to Nepal
Known as the "Pharmacy of the World," India produces 60 percent of vaccines globally. On January 22, India gifted one million doses of domestically manufactured COVID-19 vaccines to Nepal. The vaccine is currently being administered to frontline health workers, employees, and security personnel.
Several subcontinent nations chose Indian vaccines over China's
Several countries in the subcontinent, including Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and the Maldives, where Beijing has substantial investments, caught China by surprise by opting for Indian vaccines. So far, India has sent vaccine consignments under grant assistance to Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan, the Maldives, Seychelles, Myanmar, and Mauritius. It is also undertaking commercial supplies to many countries, including Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Brazil, and Morocco.
