A handover ceremony of the China-donated Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccine was held Monday in the Lao health ministry.

Chinese Ambassador to Laos Jiang Zaidong officially handed over the vaccine to Phankham Viphavanh, a member of the Political Bureau of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party Central Committee and vice president of Laos.

The batch of the Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccine carried by the Chinese YTO Express cargo plane arrived at the Lao capital Vientiane early on Monday.

Addressing the ceremony, Phankham spoke highly of China's achievements against COVID-19, noting the Communist Party of China and the Chinese government, while advancing COVID-19 prevention and control efforts at home, have delivered strong support to Laos' fight against the virus with sending medical expert teams and providing a large number of anti-epidemic supplies.

China's assistance has helped improve Laos' capability to combat COVID-19 and demonstrated the long-standing and stable comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership as well as the spirit of good neighbors, good friends, good comrades and good partners between the two countries, Phankham said.

China has been providing vaccine assistance to many countries including Laos, which fully demonstrates China as a responsible major country and its commitment to building a community with a shared future for mankind.

Phankham added that the Lao side has found the Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccine to be safe and effective in the earlier emergency use in certain high-risk personnel in Laos.

Speaking on the occasion, Jiang thanked the support from the Lao People's Revolutionary Party, government and people to China's efforts to fight COVID-19.

"We will continue to support Laos in fighting the epidemic, continue to deepen the building of the China-Laos community with a shared future" as well as to enrich the content of joint construction of a community with a shared future for mankind and a global community of health for all, he said.