UAE To Start First COVID-19 Vaccine Production Line For Sinopharm With The Help Of China

With a strong understanding of cooperation between the two nations, China is going to start the first COVID-19 vaccine production line in the UAE for Sinopharm. Chinese Foreign Minister, Wang Yi says, that the concept of manufacturing the vaccine in the UAE was made due to the strong trust and support that the UAE had shown towards China during the peak period of the pandemic. 

Apart from the relation between the two countries, the vaccines will be very affordable to the public which will make a huge contribution to easing down the travel restrictions. Ultimately, this will not only give aid to the people in the two countries but also people of other nationalities. 

The program was launched as “Life Sciences and Vaccine Manufacturing in the UAE” where top-level nationalities -Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, and the Chinese Foreign Minister, Wang Yi, were both present including Reem bint Ibrahim Al Hashemy, Minister of State for International Cooperation, and Ahmed Ali Al Sayegh, Minister of State. The program will be supported by the UAE Group 42 and China’s CNBG (Sinopharm). 

While Yi marked the launch by saying, “ I would like to say that China is making sure to work with the UAE to continue the cooperation between the two countries. First, we will work to expedite the bilateral production of the vaccines in a way that would contribute greatly to making sure the vaccines are available and affordable”. 

One of the UAE’s top diplomats supported the project with, “today we celebrate the significant milestones achieved by our strategic partnership across all levels. We are continuing the efforts that we initiated at the onset of the COVID-19 crisis. A partnership that sets an example to be emulated for collaboration between friendly nations in times of crises”. 

This project inaugurated a new chapter in their historic and distinguished relationship said the Sheikh Abdullah, under the title of “Strategic Partnership for Humanity”.

Although the launch was about starting a production line, both the parties talked about their relations with each other and how would it help the world where the information about when to start a production line and when it gets available to citizens gets unnoticed. 

UAE was also one of the first countries in the world to accept the vaccines produced by China. According to WAM ( Emirates News Agency), UAE started trialing the Chinese-made Sinopharm vaccine on 23rd June 2020 and later approved it on 9th December 2020.

At the launch ceremony, Liu Jingzhen, Chairman of Sinopharm addressed, “Today we are making large strides in the global battle against COVID-19. And this pioneering project is the fruit of close cooperation and strategic partnership between the UAE and China and their leading efforts in fighting this crisis.”

“By taking this step, the UAE has paved the way for the registration and commercial production of Sinopharm’s vaccine in an embodiment of the significant efforts made by the two friendly nations to recover from the crisis. We are very proud of this partnership with G42. This project will play a significant role in confronting the COVID-19 pandemic in the UAE, the Arab region and the entire world”, Jinghzhen added. 

On the other hand, Peng Xiao, CEO of Group 42 said that these projects and upcoming projects will revolutionize the “life sciences industry” in the next few years. Together, CNBG and G42 have made significant achievements since 2020 due to their common visions and values. 

One of the few reasons, UAE has won the heart of Chinese people is because of certain gestures that UAE has shown towards  China and Chinese people.  Like when Wuhan was dying from COVID-19, a message saying “Stay Strong Wuhan” was lit up on the world’s tallest building, Burj Khalifa.  

Also, on 4rth April 2020, China’s national mourning day for the victims and warriors of Covid-19, Sheik Mohamed bin Zayed, tweeted offering his condolences in his official Twitter account in Arabic, English, and Chinese language.

Yi says that the partnership between these two countries has not only limited to Covid-19 vaccines but also co-operating together on several forms of technologies like 5G, Big Data, conventional energy, the economy, trade, and other investments.

According to Yi, the production of Sinopharm vaccines can also help in Dubai Expo happening soon. “As the containment of the current pandemic and precaution measures are progressing, and as Dubai Expo is approaching, we are certain that the UAE would still be an important destination for the Chinese tourists” he adds.