Beijing (People’s Daily) - The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) is contributing $1 million to help China control the spread of COVID-19. The amount comprises donations from AIIB staff and matching funds from the bank.

Overseas shipments of medical supplies donated by AIIB are being delivered to Wuhan and Beijing in batches. (Photo: People’s Daily app)

The contribution was used to purchase medical equipment to help frontline health care professionals battling the coronavirus outbreak in Wuhan and Beijing.

AIIB has been sourcing medical supplies from around the world, including 51,000 medical masks, 46,000 sets of protective clothing, 17,000 surgical aprons, 21,000 boxes of surgical gloves and other medical and epidemic prevention supplies, with a total weight of 40 tons.

The first batch of materials was delivered to Wuhan and Beijing on Monday, with other batches to follow.

“AIIB’s management and staff stand by the Chinese people,” said AIIB President Jin Liqun, “We are ready to offer our help to the best of our ability. We want to do our part as residents of China to help stop the epidemic’s spread.”

AIIB announced on February 10 that it has been in active discussions with the government of China to strengthen the country’s emergency public health infrastructure and help meet its immediate and longer-term public health needs.