The Solomon Islands welcomed a batch of Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccines donated by China late on Sunday, with officials from both countries receiving the 50,000-dose shipment as it landed in the Pacific island nation's capital.

"China is the first country to provide the Solomon Islands with the vaccine through bilateral channels," China's Ambassador to the Solomon Islands Li Ming said.

Health Minister Culwick Togamana expressed thanks over the aid, saying that it was a testament to the two countries' friendship and joint efforts in the fight against COVID-19 pandemic.

The Solomon Islands has so far reported 19 confirmed COVID-19 cases with no deaths, according to the latest data compiled by Johns Hopkins University.