ADDIS ABABA - A batch of China's Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccines, donated by the Chinese government to Ethiopia, arrived here on Tuesday.

　　The doses were received at the Addis Ababa Bole International Airport by Chinese Ambassador to Ethiopia, Zhao Zhiyuan, Ethiopia Minister of Health, Lia Tadesse and Birtukan Ayano, State Minister of Ethiopia Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

　　"China is the first to provide Ethiopia with vaccine aid through the bilateral inter-governmental channel, which speaks volumes of the profound traditional friendship between the two countries," Zhao told reporters.

　　Zhao also disclosed the Chinese government has been donating vaccines to dozens of countries, as part of its solidarity in the fight against the pandemic.

　　"China has donated and is donating vaccines to 80 developing countries in urgent need, and has provided support under COVAX for emergency use of vaccines in developing countries," Zhao said.

　　COVAX, an international vaccine campaign co-led by the World Health Organization and its partners, aims to speed up the development, production and fair distribution of new COVID-19 vaccines.