BEIJING, Jan. 28 (Xinhua) - Agricultural Development Bank of China contributed to combating the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) by providing loans to enterprises producing protective equipment such as masks and other medical appliances.

A staff member works at the producing workshop of face mask in a medical devices company in Nan'an District of southwest China's Chongqing, Jan. 27, 2020. In order to ensure the supply of face masks on the market, some mask manufacturers in Chongqing resumed work during the Spring Festival holidays, working overtime to help with the prevention and control of the novel coronavirus. (Photo: Xinhua)

The bank urged the expediting of the approval of companies' credit applications related to the prevention and control of the epidemic through emergency channels.

The bank's Hubei branch has communicated financial demands with several medical enterprises and is ready to complete the payment of the loans as needed.

A total of 8 million yuan (about 1.16 million U.S. dollars) has been donated by the bank to back up the battle against the viral epidemic.