Chairman and Serb member of Bosnia's tripartite Presidency Milorad Dodik met on Thursday with Ambassador of China Ji Ping, to discuss the cooperation between the two countries, especially the one in the healthcare sector which increased during the pandemic.

“When China was going through the most difficult moments in fighting the epidemic last year, we got the support of Chairman Dodik and other friends in Bosnia and Herzegovina, particularly in Republika Srpska (Bosnia's Serb-majority region). Epidemic and virus are still here and the government of China is putting all efforts in the fight against that,” the ambassador said, following the meeting in Eastern Sarajevo.

He wished good health to all people in this city, which is the neighbouring city of the capital Sarajevo, and the rest of the country, and expressed hope everyone will preserve their health until the epidemic is over.

Speaking of the procurement of coronavirus vaccine by Bosnia's Federation (FBiH) entity from China's producer Sinopharm, the ambassador said he had no many details about this deal because it is a commercial purchase.

“China's government donated 50,000 Chinese vaccines to Bosnia and Herzegovina in April through the Civil Affairs Ministry, and both entities are having intensive communication with the Sinopharm company. Our embassy is not too involved in this, because it is a commercial purchase. But we definitely support this cooperation,” said Ping.

Chairman Dodik thanked for the medical equipment that China donated to the hospital in Eastern Sarajevo, and announced the delivery of 80,000 more Sinopharm vaccines for the Republika Srpska entity by end of the month.