Chinese COVID-19 response assistance to Iran praised

The Iranian Ministry of Health and Medical Education hosted an online celebration of the successful launch of a medical waste treatment equipment and training program, a result of the cooperation between the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and China using the South-South Cooperation Assistance Fund, on Oct 18, 2021. Representatives from the China International Development Cooperation Agency (CIDCA) and the UNIDO attended the event.

Vice-minister of the Iranian Ministry of Health and Medical Education extended appreciation to the Chinese government and the UNIDO for their support in Iran’s fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. The program enhanced Iran’s medical waste treatment capacity and knowledge. Iran is looking forward to more cooperation with China and the UNIDO, the vice-minister said. The UNIDO representative said the medical waste treatment equipment provided by the Chinese government and the UNIDO to a medical institution in Tehran has completed installation and can process 4 tons of medical waste per day. The success of the project reflects the importance of South-South cooperation and trilateral cooperation, and the UNIDO is looking forward to even greater cooperation with the Chinese government to jointly contribute to the realization of the UN’s 2030 agenda for sustainable development.

Tian Lin, head of the International Cooperation Department of the CIDCA, said the safe disposal of medical waste is a key part of the anti-pandemic fight. China is willing to carry out more international cooperation within the South-South cooperation framework, explore more trilateral cooperation with other countries and international organizations and contribute to the building of a shared community of health for all. 

Since the outbreak of COVID-19, the Chinese government has cooperated with the UNIDO and used the South-South Cooperation Assistance Fund to provide medical waste treatment equipment and training to medical institutions in Iran.