Waiting for Bangladesh govt’s nod to start Covid-19 vaccine co-production: Chinese embassy

China is waiting for the go-ahead from the Bangladesh government to start co-production of Covid-19 vaccines in the country, said Chinese embassy Deputy Chief of Mission Hualong Yan.

"For co-producing [of vaccines in Bangladesh], Chinese side is ready. Sinopharm is ready, Sinovac is ready… you have got very modern, very good facilities for co-production," he said in response to a question from The Daily Star at a webinar today.

"Now we are waiting for the signal from Bangladeshi government. Everything is ready, China is ready," he said at the event titled "Centenary of Chinese Communist Party" organised by the Association of Bangladesh-China Alumni.

Earlier, China gifted 1.1 million Sinopharm vaccines and, under a purchase agreement, supplied 2 million Sinopharm jabs in early July. 

"We are expecting five million more by this month or early next month," Hualong said, adding that China promised to supply vaccines in quantities as demanded by Bangladesh.

He said the Chinese government and vaccine producers attach high importance to the Bangladesh-China friendship.

In a Facebook post on July 6, Hualong said Chinese vaccine companies were working with Bangladeshi partners for future vaccine co-production in Bangladesh.

China has so far provided vaccines to nearly 100 countries, and will provide the first batch of 10 million doses to global vaccine alliance COVAX, he added.