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Amid global powers vaccine diplomacy, analysts say Nepal should make the most of it and tread carefully Kathmandu Post
Kathmandu, Feb. 8 The past few weeks have been busy for Minister of Health and Population Hrydesh Tripathi.
Over the last few days, Tripathi has held a series of meetings with ambassadors of various countries-India, the United States and the United Kingdom. On Thursday, Tripathi held talks with Chinese Ambassador Hou Yanqi.
The purpose: ensuring early availability of Covid-19 vaccines.
On Friday evening, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a press statement, saying that China will provide half a million doses of Covid-19 vaccine to Nepal under grant assistance.
February 08, 2021
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When Nepal raised concerns over the vaccine’s efficacy, China asked Nepal to transport the vaccines immediately, adding the relevant documents, including the legal disclaimer, may be provided simultaneously or later
The Chinese embassy in Kathmandu had pressurised Nepal’s Foreign Ministry to accept its Covid-19 vaccine, without vaccine efficacy being validated, as per leaked documents cited by Nepali media.
Nepali media on Sunday revealed in a story that China’s Sinovac Covid-19 vaccine, produced by pharmaceutical Sinopharm, asked Nepal to accept the vaccine without any delay.
In a telephonic conversation, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi asked his Nepali counterpart Pradeep Kumar Gyawali to accept their vaccines. The Chinese minister kept forth a condition that the details of the vaccine will be sent afterward, as per media reports.
Leaked documents of correspondence between Nepal s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Chinese Embassy in Kathmandu show that Beijing had put pressure on the Himalayan country to accept its Covid vaccine without its efficiency and efficacy being established.
Nepali media on Sunday published stories on the basis of the leaked correspondence which shows how China made Nepal accept its Sinovac vaccine produced by Sinopharm without any further delay.
Leaked documents of correspondence between Nepal s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Chinese Embassy in Kathmandu show that Beijing had put pressure on the Himalayan country to accept its Covid vaccine without its efficiency and efficacy .