A second batch of Sinovac vaccine CoronaVac donated by China arrived in the Philippine capital Manila on Wednesday. 

Several Philippine government officials and Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Huang Xilian were at the Manila airport to meet the arrival of the 400,000 doses.

Health Secretary Francisco Duque said the Philippines is "grateful for the arrival of additional donated vaccines." 

"The arrival of these vaccines could not have occurred at a more opportune time considering the continued rise in cases, which in turn increases the need to inoculate more high-risk individuals as soon as possible," Duque said. 

Carlito Galvez, chief implementer of the National Task Force against COVID-19, said the arrival of the additional CoronaVac vaccines "is a testament that when all nations are working together, we can surmount any challenges ahead." 

"The Philippine government will continue to strengthen its collaboration with China to put an end to this pandemic finally," Galvez added. 

The Philippines received the first batch of 600,000 doses of CoronaVac donated by China on February 28. 

China is the first country to provide COVID-19 vaccines to the Philippines, allowing the Southeast Asian country to kick off its vaccination program. 

Along with CoronaVac, the Philippines has approved the emergency use of the Pfizer and AstraZeneca vaccines, and Russia's Sputnik V vaccine. 

The government aims to inoculate up to 70 million Filipinos this year to achieve herd immunity, starting with health care workers, the elderly, and the poor communities. The Philippines has a population of about 110 million. 

(With input from Xinhua)