On September 24, the one million Sinovac vaccines donated by the Chinese government to the Indonesian government arrived at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport. Retno Marsudi, Foreign Minister of Indonesia, and Xiao Qian, Chinese Ambassador to Indonesia, delivered remarks via video link.
Foreign Minister Retno said that today has seen the arrival of one million Sinovac vaccines donated by the Chinese government and one million vaccines from Sinovac. On September 21, Indonesia had also received 200 thousand doses of Sinopharm vaccines from the Red Cross Society of China. She expressed gratitude and appreciation for the vaccine support given by the Chinese government, Sinovac and the Red Cross Society of China. With the delivery of these vaccines, the total number of vaccines that have arrived in Indonesia comes to 273 million doses. This is the outcome of Indonesia's diplomatic efforts to ensure vaccine supplies.
Retno said that the gap in access to vaccines is a concern of the world today. President Joko Widodo also raised this concern in his remarks at the General Debate of the 76th Session of the UN General Assembly, emphasizing that economic recovery can only be attained if the pandemic can be defeated together and the pandemic can only be defeated if the vaccine access gap can be narrowed down. Only through COVAX and efforts to ensure vaccine sharing and fair distribution, can all countries jointly close the vaccine divide. The politicization and nationalism of vaccines must end. Solidarity and cooperation are the keys for the world to come out of the pandemic and recover together.
Ambassador Xiao Qian pointed out that since COVID-19 pandemic began, China and Indonesia have supported each other in fighting the disease. The one million doses of vaccines is a new effort made by the Chinese government to support Indonesia's fight against COVID-19 following the donation of 120 ventilators, 400 oxygen generators and other relevant medical supplies to the Indonesian government last August. In addition, Chinese local governments, military, political parties and companies have provided or are providing various kinds of assistance to Indonesia.
Xiao said that vaccine cooperation has become a highlight in the two countries' bilateral relations. As of today, Sinovac and Sinopharm have exported 215 million doses of vaccines to Indonesia, accounting for nearly 20% of all vaccines exported by China in the same time period and more than 80% of the total vaccines obtained by Indonesia. Five Chinese vaccine companies have worked with Indonesia in research and development, procurement, filling, and production through four different technologies. China actively supports Indonesia in building a regional vaccine manufacturing hub. It is believed that in the near future, Indonesia will not only meet its own vaccine demand, but also export vaccines to neighboring countries.
Xiao emphasized that a few days ago, in the statement at the General Debate of the 76th Session of the UN General Assembly, Chinese President Xi Jinping pointed out that vaccine needs to be made a global public good and its accessibility and affordability in developing countries should be ensured. China will continue to support and engage in global science-based origins tracing, and stands firmly opposed to political maneuvering in whatever form. Xiao announced that in addition to today's one million doses of vaccines, the Chinese government will donate another one million doses to the Indonesian government.
Xiao stressed that COVID-19 is a common challenge to all humankind. China will uphold the vision of a global community of health for all and work with Indonesia to fight the pandemic, deepen whole-industrial-chain cooperation in vaccine, and help Indonesia establish a regional vaccine manufacturing hub to make greater contributions to the fight against the pandemic in Indonesia and the region.
