Prime Minister Narendra Modi with China’s President Xi Jinping (PRAKASH SINGH/AFP/Getty Images)In a bid to compete with India in supplying COVID-19 vaccines to nations across the world, China is now set to donate three lakh doses of Sinopharm Covid-19 vaccine to Sri Lanka, reports Hindustan Times.
The Chinese vaccines are expected to land in Sri Lanka towards mid-February.
China's state-run news agency Xinhua also cited a statement issued by the Chinese Embassy in Colombo, which states that China made the decision to donate its vaccines to Sri Lanka after a recent request by the island nation's government.
Meanwhile, it should be noted that the announcement by China came on the very day when Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa expressed gratitude to India for its generosity, as the nation received a gift of five lakh doses of the Covishield vaccines under India's "Neighbourhood First" policy.
Other than Sri Lanka, several other nations in the subcontinent have opted for the Indian vaccine supplies over the Chinese ones. These nations include Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Maldives, Bhutan, Seychelles and Mauritius.
India is, meanwhile, also undertaking the commercial supply of vaccines to several other nations like Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Brazil, Morocco and others.
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