MANILA, 17 (DPA / EP)
The Philippine Minister of Foreign Affairs, Teodoro Locsin, has obtained from the Chinese authorities their commitment to deliver, next month, half a million vaccines from the pharmaceutical company Sinopharm in a gesture of the good relationship between both countries.
“Mutual support and growing trust between us have become key features of our relationship,” Locsin said after meeting with his Chinese counterpart, Wang Li, in Manila.
“The fight against COVID-19 and the process of acceptance of this new and inescapable ‘normality’ will meet a turning point with the arrival of vaccines,” said the Philippine minister.
This agreement is announced on a day that the Philippines has reached 500,577 infections of the new coronavirus, with 1,895 more in the last 24 hours, according to health authorities.
“Until 4 pm on January 17, 2021, the Department of Health has registered 1,895 additional cases of covid-19, 5,868 recovered and 11 deaths. Of the total cases registered in the country, 4.9% (24,691) are assets, 93.1% (465,991) recovered and 1.98% (9,895) deceased “, according to the latest official balance sheet.
China agreed to a 500 million yuan (about 80 million euros) grant to finance infrastructure projects in the Philippines.
Wang, who arrived in Manila on Friday, is on a week-long trip to Southeast Asia that includes stops in Indonesia and Burma, amid persistent tensions in the South China Sea and ahead of next week’s handover of powers in U.S.
“Given the continuing interest of our two nations in regional stability and the security of our maritime commons, it behooves us to show our ability to meet the challenge of handling differences peacefully and in accordance with the law,” Locsin said.
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