China donates medical supplies to Nepal to help fight COVID-19

Chinese Ambassador to Nepal Hou Yanqi (L) hands over the Chinese medical supplies on May 11. [Photo/np.chineseembassy.org]

Medical supplies donated by the Chinese government to Nepal arrived in Kathmandu, the country’s capital, in two shipments on May 9 and 10.

Chinese Ambassador to Nepal Hou Yanqi and Nepali Minister for Health and Population Bhanubhakta Dhakal attended the handover ceremony of Chinese medical supplies on May 11.

On behalf of the Chinese government, Hou handed over the medical supplies and said that since the pandemic outbreak China and Nepal have been firmly standing together and helping each other with joint pandemic prevention and control responses.

The Chinese president stressed in a phone conversation with Nepali president that the government and people of Nepal have firmly supported China at its most difficult time in the fight against the virus. It shows the deep friendship of the Nepali people towards the Chinese people.

China pays great attention to the pandemic situation in Nepal and continues to provide strong support to the country, said Hou, adding that the donation of the Chinese medical supplies is an implementation of the important consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries.

Chinese medical supplies arrive in Nepal. [Photo/np.chineseembassy.org]

Hou underscored that the virus is a common challenge of mankind. Mankind is a community with a shared future and solidarity and cooperation are the most powerful weapons in fighting the virus.

With comprehensive and continuous pandemic prevention and control mechanisms in place domestically, China stands ready to work with the World Health Organization and all countries and regions and carry out information sharing, pandemic prevention, patient treatment and vaccine research and development.

China has overcome difficulties to provide anti-pandemic supplies to countries in need as its ability allows, sent medical teams and held videoconferences to share its experience. The virus is still spreading, and China has provided anti-pandemic assistance to over 100 countries and regions including Nepal and members of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation.

“Rumor virus” and “political virus” are more destructive than the novel coronavirus. Only with solidarity and cooperation can mankind eventually defeat the virus, said Hou.

Workers use a trailer to transport the Chinese medical supplies in Nepal. [Photo/np.chineseembassy.org]

On behalf of the Nepali government and people, Dhakal thanked China for its assistance, and said that China and Nepal have always helped each other through thick and thin. Nepal spoke highly of China’s decisive and effective measures in successfully containing the pandemic and stressed that the Chinese experience is worth study by other countries.

Currently, there are many weak links in Nepal’s pandemic prevention and control such as medical supplies shortage and limited experience. China as a good neighbor and a good partner of Nepal has offered help from the beginning and donated multiple batches of medical supplies to Nepal, sent by the central government, provincial governments and non-governmental organizations, said Dhakal.

Dhakal added that experts from the two countries have kept sharing information and exchanging experience, providing strong support to Nepal’s pandemic prevention work. The governments and peoples of the two countries will continue to work together in solidarity until a final win against the virus is secured.