A plane carrying the third batch raw materials for Sinovac coronavirus vaccines arrives at Sukarno-Hatta International Airport in Tangerang, Indonesia, Jan. 12, 2021. (Lukas/Presidential Palace/Handout via Xinhua)

China has provided 1.8 billion doses of COVID-19 vaccine to other countries in the world after 700,000 doses of vaccine bound for Laos were dispatched on Thursday, according to China International Development Cooperation Agency (CIDCA).

CIDCA is working with the Ministry of Commerce and the government of Southwest China's Yunnan Province which borders Laos to support the country with 700,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccines and other quarantine materials valued at 10 million yuan.

China has offered a total of 6.9 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine to Laos so far, becoming the major provider of vaccines to the Southeast Asian nation. 

Deng Boqing, vice-chairman of CIDCA, said the corporation between China and Laos reflected the close relationship between China and Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). Deng earlier vowed to donate 150 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines to ASEAN countries in addition to $1.5 billion financial support over the next three years. 

Global Times