The first batch of COVID-19 vaccines donated by China arrived in Bishkek, capital of Kyrgyzstan on Friday.

Kyrgyz Prime Minister Ulukbek Maripov and Chinese ambassador to Kyrgyzstan Du Dewen attended the vaccine handover ceremony at Manas International Airport in Bishkek.

Maripov, on behalf of the Kyrgyz government, thanked the Chinese government for its assistance to Kyrgyzstan's battle against the COVID-19 pandemic. He said that China was one of the first countries to provide anti-pandemic assistance to Kyrgyzstan and China's vaccine donation once again illustrated the friendship between the two countries.

Maripov added that the vaccine from China has received wide recognition in the international community, and the vaccine will greatly help the Kyrgyz republic in the fight against the pandemic.

"Kyrgyzstan is ready to further intensify cooperation and work together with China in the fight against the epidemic," he said.

Chinese Ambassador Du Dewen noted that China continues to provide assistance to Kyrgyzstan in the fight against the pandemic, and the friendship between the two countries has further strengthened in anti-epidemic cooperation,

"In the context of huge domestic demand for a new vaccine, China's free aid to Kyrgyzstan fully demonstrates the deep friendship of the Chinese government and people toward the government and people of Kyrgyzstan and reflects the high level of comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries," the ambassador said.

Du expressed the hope that the vaccine will play an active role in combating the epidemic in Kyrgyzstan, as well as protecting the health and safety of the country's residents. The ambassador also stressed that China, being one of the first countries in the world to have successfully developed vaccines, is actively pursuing international cooperation in this area.

"China is ready to continue to fight the epidemic side by side with Kyrgyzstan, to help build a Chinese-Kyrgyz health community and deepen cooperation in various fields in the joint construction of Belt and Road in order to benefit the peoples of the two countries," the Chinese diplomat said.

Earlier, the Ministry of Health of Kyrgyzstan reported that the first stage of vaccination in the country will begin in late March or early April.

(With input from Xinhua)