Bangkok (People’s Daily) – A twelve-expert Chinese medical team arrived in Manila, capital city of the Philippines, on Sunday afternoon to help the country fight against the coronavirus epidemic.

Photo from Philippines Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin’s Twitter post

This is the third Chinese medical team sent to Southeast Asian countries after Cambodia and Laos. The team also brought medical supplies, the third batch of China official aid. The twelve-expert team was welcomed by Philippines Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr and Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Huang Xilian at Manila Ninoy Aquino International Airport.

In a virtual press conference on Saturday, the Philippines Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases spokesperson Karlo Nograles said, "The IATF authorizes the technical visit of 12 medical experts from the People’s Republic of China, who will assist government efforts in addressing the COVID-19 situation in the Philippines subject to ratification by the Office of the President.”

According to the Manila Bulletin, a local newspaper, the Chinese medical team is expected to work closely with their counterparts at the Philippines Department of Health (DOH) by sharing their medical treatment experience in dealing with the COVID-19.

Weng Shangeng, vice president of The First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University (FAHFMU), also the head of the medical team, told the People’s Daily that they will spend about 15 days in the Philippines, especially in Metro Manila. “As experienced Chinese experts, we will try our best to provide valuable advice and technical support to the Philippines,” Weng said.

As of Sunday, the number of confirmed coronavirus cases in the Philippines increased to 3,094, and the number of deaths rose to 144.