Sinopharm strengthens the supply of medical materials to overseas branches of central SOEs. (Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn)

China National Pharmaceutical Group Co, also known as Sinopharm, is stepping up efforts to assist overseas subsidiaries and business programs of China's central State-owned enterprises maintain normal operation through providing them with medical supplies, helping stabilize the global supply chain amid the surge of novel coronavirus infection worldwide.

China has made great achievements in the fight against the disease, and central SOEs have the taken the lead in the country's steady work and business resumption, yet the escalating new COVID-19 cases outside China are taking a toll on the business activities and operations of Chinese central SOEs and institutions overseas.

To help them is to contribute to stabilizing the global supply chain, and Sinopharm, making this one of its priorities to support overseas work resumption of central SOEs, will do its best to provide them medical supplies, Liu Jingzhen, chairman of the company, said in a conference held at China Sinopharm International Co, Sinopharm's fully-owned subsidiary and its main platform for overseas healthcare and pharmaceutical business.

Sinopharm started its cooperation with China Nonferrous Metal Mining Group Co Ltd and China Communications Construction Co to support their overseas operation as early as March 11.

On March 16, Sinopharm set up a special working group to fully focus on related work.

The company has proactively contacted central SOEs to express its willingness to assist purchasing anti-COVID-19 supplies, and has received feedbacks from more than 50 central SOEs' overseas branches in more 30 countries and regions, asking for a large number of medical protective gear, test kits, Chinese and Western medicines, ventilators and other equipment.

It has shipped 200,000 masks purchased for Nam Kwong Group in Macao and signed purchase contracts with a slew of foreign medical and health authorities and institutions, such as the Ministry of Health of Djibouti.

It is currently working with dozens of central SOEs and their subsidiaries, including China Unicom, China Railway Construction Corporation Group and China Three Gorges Co, to arrange medical materials procurement and shipment.