Kathmandu, May 26: President Bidya Devi Bhandari and President of the People’s Republic of China Xi Jinping held a telephone conversation this afternoon. On the occasion, the two dignitaries discussed and exchanged their views on overall bilateral relations including COVID-19 related cooperation.

On the occasion, President Bhandari thanked the Government of the People’s Republic of China for its continued support to Nepal in its fight against COVID-19 by providing life-saving medicines, medical equipment and supplies, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

While appreciating President Xi’s public announcement that anti-COVID-19 vaccines should be global public goods, President Bhandari also thanked China for providing Nepal with eight hundred thousand doses of anti-COVID vaccines earlier. The President of Nepal also requested for the facilitation of the Chinese Government to the procurement of COVID-19 vaccines from China.

The President of China, acknowledging the difficulties Nepal has been facing due to the second wave of the pandemic, expressed full support of his Government to Nepal in its fight against COVID-19. During the conversation, the Chinese President announced that China will provide additional 1 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine to Nepal as grant assistance. President Xi also assured that Nepal will remain on a priority of China in vaccine support and cooperation.

In response, President Bhandari thanked the President of China for the new announcement of additional vaccine cooperation to Nepal at this crucial hour and expressed confidence that the cooperation will continue as we fight against the coronavirus, adds the Ministry.