Bangkok, (People’s Daily) – Late Tuesday night, Chinese Ambassador Huang Xilian and Philippine Defense Secretary Lorenzana attended the turnover ceremony of COVID-19 medical supplies donated by the Ministry of National Defense of China at the Manila Ninoy Aquino International Airport. The ceremony was also graced by officials from both sides. 

Photos by Zhao Yipu/People's Daily

In order to help the Philippines overcome the COVID-19 pandemic at the earliest and in accordance with the current needs of the Philippines in fighting the pandemic, the Ministry of National Defense of China decided to donate a batch of emergency medical supplies, including over 80,000 pieces of surgical masks, protective suits and protective goggles, to the Philippine side, said Ambassador Huang.

 “We hope these urgently-needed medical supplies could be allotted to the frontliners as soon as possible so as to provide effective protection for them,” Huang said.

Huang emphasized that in the anti-pandemic cooperation between our two countries, both armed forces have shown a valuable spirit of mutual support and help. Recently, the Philippine military aircraft shuttled between the two countries almost every day, bringing back medical supplies purchased by the Philippine government from China. China provided utmost facilitation for the flight and transportation permits of Philippine military aircraft. When the Philippine navy vessel BRP Bacolod City (LS-550) traveled to Zhangzhou Port of China to ship back the medical supplies, China not only swiftly issued a special permit, but also sent a navy ship to escort the Philippine navy vessel. All the above demonstrates both China’s sincerity in helping the Philippines’ fight the pandemic and Chinese army’s goodwill towards the Philippine military and its people.

Huang said that the COVID-19 pandemic is a global challenge that threatens mankind. Virus respects no borders or races. All the countries should put their citizens’ health at the first place and jointly fight against the pandemic with the vision of a community of shared future for mankind while not politicizing public health issue by stigmatizing and sticking the virus label on a specific country or region. All politicians should refrain from exploiting this pandemic for political gain and putting the people’s health aside. China will as always, stand together with the Philippine government and people to jointly overcome the pandemic till the day of a final victory. 

Secretary Lorenzana expressed his sincere thanks to the Chinese Military on behalf of the Philippine Armed Forces for the donation of medical supplies. He also appreciated China’s support to facilitate the Philippine military aircrafts and navy vessels to bring back the much-needed medical supplies from China. 

 “That will go a long way to help our fight against COVID-19. The Defense Department will support all government hospitals and some private hospitals if they are in need of the PPEs especially.” Secretary Lorenzana said. He was pleased to see both military sides playing an active role in the fight against the COVID-19, which will contribute to deepening mutual understanding and trust.