On June 29, the vaccines donated by the Government of the People’s Republic of China arrived in Barbados. H.E. Yan Xiusheng, Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to Barbados, the Honourable Mia Amor Mottley, Prime Minister of Barbados, the Honourable Jeffrey Bostic, Minister of Health and Wellness of Barbados as well as Ms. Simone Rudder, Permanent Secretary of Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade of Barbados and others gathered at Grantley Adams International Airport to welcome the arrival of the vaccines and attended the handover ceremony. Ambassador Yan also signed the handover certificate with Minister Bostic on the spot.
At the Ceremony, Ambassador Yan said that China and Barbados are close friends and partners based on mutual trust. After COVID-19 broke out, President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Mia Mottley have exchanged letters, expressing solidarity and cooperation of the two countries in fighting the virus. China has donated the mostly-needed medical supplies to Barbados. China also organized webinars between top Chinese front-line medical experts and their counterparts in Barbados, sharing knowledge and experience in epidemic prevention and control. This batch of vaccines donated by the Chinese government is another concrete action of China-Barbados cooperation in fighting the COVID-19, with a shared concern by President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Mia Mottley. China will continue to support Barbados in its efforts to contain the virus and realize the recovery of the normal economy and social life.
Ambassador Yan also stressed that, July 1, 2021 marks the Centenary Anniversary of the Founding of the Communist Party of China. Based on the tremendous achievements of the first centenary goal, China is embarking on a new journey of comprehensively building a modern socialist country. The Communist Party of China adheres to its original aspiration and mission, seeking happiness for the Chinese people and rejuvenation for the Chinese nation, and is ready to work with Barbados and all other countries to build a community with a shared future for mankind.
Prime Minister Mottley thanked President Xi Jinping for his personally caring about the vaccines gifted to Barbados, extended warmly congratulations on the 100th Anniversary of the Founding of the Communist Party of China, and highly appreciated the Chinese government's donated much needed medical supplies to Barbados since the outbreak of the Covid-19. She pointed out that Chinese vaccines are safe, effective and trustworthy, and hoped that Barbados and China will further deepen cooperation in the fight against the epidemic.
Barbados Government Information Service, Caribbean Broadcasting Corporation, The Barbados Advocate, Nation Newspaper and Barbados Today and other mainstream media in Barbados reported the events. Barbadian people feel enthusiastic about the arrival of China-donated vaccines, thanking the Chinese government and its people for their selfless assistance, and viewing the donated vaccines as confidence and hope for them to win the battle against the epidemic.