China wants to help BD on Covid vaccine issue

Ambassador Li Jiming tells a Dhaka resident


ISMAIL HOSSAIN | Published: December 09, 2020 00:23:17


China wants to help BD on Covid vaccine issue

Chinese ambassador in Dhaka Li Jiming expressed his country's interest in working with Bangladesh in the production and distribution of vaccines to fight the Covid-19 pandemic.
He said China, side by side guarding itself from a possible second wave, has been doing its best to help the countries fighting the coronavirus by creating a "great wall" against the pandemic.
Mr Jiming reiterated his country's commitment on Monday while replying to a letter, dated December 04, sent by a Dhaka resident who offered donation to Chinese voluntary organisations that are engaged in fight against Covid-19.
The embassy, in a post uploaded on its Facebook page the same day, thanked the said resident, named, Syed Saiful Alam.
"We have been, and will continue working with the government and people of Bangladesh, including in the production and distribution of vaccines, to curb the pandemic to the best of our ability," replied Mr Jiming.
The FE obtained the content of the letter.
An embassy official, however, said they want to protect the privacy of the person so his identity and the amount of money he offered would not be disclosed.
"Recently, we received a letter from a warm-hearted Dhaka resident who offered to make a donation to Chinese voluntary organisations who are fighting Covid-19, with the money he saved up for a travel plan to China that got cancelled due to the pandemic!" reads the Facebook post.
"We're amazed by the generosity and selflessness of this gentleman, though we didn't take the money for we believe it could be reserved for better use," it said.
In reply, the ambassador wrote a letter to express his appreciation and gifted a specially selected set of photography books on Chinese landscapes to the sender.
"As we are now seeing the resurgence of the Covid-19 pandemic around the world, while guarding itself from a possible second wave, China is also doing its best to help other countries battle the virus, or indeed, creating a "great wall" against the pandemic, as you correctly mentioned in your letter."
"Given the current situation in Bangladesh and elsewhere, it is my humble suggestion that you reserve the donation for where it is needed the most," he Mr Jiming writes.
"But I promise that your message will be faithfully conveyed to the Chinese people and will be remembered with gratitude," he wrote to the person mentioned above.

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