CAMBODIA has made a formal request to China for authorisation to produce Chinese-made Covid-19 vaccines in the country.
Prime Minister Hun Sen made the request through Chinese Ambassador to Cambodia Wang Wentian.
According to the Khmer Times, Hun Sen said he had spoken with the Ambassador about China's continued supply of Covid-19 vaccines and reached an initiative on authorisation of producing the vaccine directly in Cambodia.
"The initiative is in terms of cooperation between both countries, as the vaccine is originally from China, and handing over the licence to Cambodia to produce the Covid-19 vaccine," he said.
He said the country was to produce the vaccines for its own use and also to help other countries by distributing to them.
"We don't know when the virus will vanish to reduce the tragedy of deaths because of Covid-19. We still need more vaccines to deal with it.
"I hope Chinese Ambassador Wang Wentian will deliver this request to the President and Prime Minister of China because this is the opportunity to fight against Covid-19 more effectively."
Hun Sen pointed out that it would save time and shorten the delivery distance if the vaccine is produced in Cambodia.
"If we gain this authorisation, we can face the deadly virus no matter how long the virus stays with us.
"Look at Thailand, the country gained the authorisation to produce AstraZenaca by themselves. We can produce Sinovac or Sinopharm as long as China authorises it, so I request that the Health Ministry works closely with the Chinese Ambassador," he said.
Meanwhile, government spokesman Phay Siphan said he believed China would approve the request as both countries have been helping each other in many factors especially in fighting the Covid-19.
"If we have our own industry to produce the vaccine from China, it could be more convenient, faster, easier and safer," he said.
Health Ministry spokesman Hok Kim Cheng told the Khmer Times that the ministry will work on this matter to enhance the capacity to meet the requirement of authorisation.
"Cambodia has been hit by the virus for almost two years and we learned a lot from it. We need to strengthen our ability to meet the requirements to gain the right to produce the vaccine," he said.
"We have human resources in our hands but the modern technologies we have are at a standstill and are not yet adequate. We need to strengthen and follow up closely to gain the authorisation," said Kim Cheng.