Another 2.5 million doses of the Sinovac Covid-19 vaccine touched down in Cambodia on September 4, of which two million were purchased and 500,000 donated by the Chinese pharmaceutical firm and facilitated by the Chinese government.

Ministry of Health secretary of state York Sambath, who personally received the vaccines at Phnom Penh International Airport, said the donation is a sign of good progress towards building a community of common destiny between China and Cambodia.

“This is a new donation from the government of China which has an ironclad friendship with Cambodia. It is a reflection of our traditional friendship and solidarity, as well as the cooperation of the Cambodia-China comprehensive strategy which is growing stronger,” she said.

Sambath said another five million Sinovac vaccine doses that the government has purchased will also arrive this month.

According to Prime Minister Hun Sen, Cambodia has so far received nearly 30 million vaccine doses through purchase and donation and through the World Health Organisation-led Covax Facility.

He said China has been the main source of vaccines, putting Cambodia on track to vaccinating its target population of 12 million aged 12 and older ahead of schedule.

"The government has strived to procure vaccines to administer to the people free of charge. We have received vaccines from the World Health Organisation through Covax, Japan, the UK and US. China has provided the most vaccine doses," he said.