China gives more medical supplies to Fiji, Pacific
The partnership between the People’s Republic of China and Pacific Island countries has culminated into greater co-operation and solidarity towards containing COVID-19.
This is evident through the latest announcements made by China on the new set of assistance consisting of US$800,000 (FJ$1.7 million) and the supply of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) provided to Fiji and other Pacific Island countries. This assistance has resulted through fruitful discussions held via a virtual meeting earlier this month, between China and the Pacific Island countries on the global containment efforts, bilateral co-operation, co-ordination on a multilateral level and reaching a broad consensus.
Chinese Ambassador to Fiji Qian Bo said that through the “China–Pacific Island Countries Anti-COVID-19 Cooperation Fund,” China would inject a further US$500,000 (FJ$1.1m), of which US$100,000 (FJ$222,114.07) will go to Fiji,” Ambassador Bo said.
“We have donated US$1.9 million (FJ$4.2m) as the first batch of assistance in cash to the Pacific Island countries and with this new assistance of US$500,000 (FJ$1.1m) the total assistance given to the Pacific Island countries amounts to US$2.4 million (FJ$5.3m).
“China has also donated US$200,000 (FJ$444,228.13) to the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP), to support the secretariat in its efforts to address priority concerns of Pacific Island countries, who suffer from both climate change and the COVID-19 crisis. Further, China will donate US$100,000 (FJ$222,114.07) to the South Pacific Tourism Organisation (SPTO), to help the Pacific tourism-driven countries affected by the epidemic.”
The second important area of assistance provided by China to assist Pacific Island countries is through the donation of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).
Ambassador Bo said that the provision of assistance in the health sector was made possible through collaboration at various levels ranging from central Government, provincial, China Friendship Association and the Chinese Business Sector in Fiji and the world over. A new batch of medical supplies that has arrived in Fiji this week is the donation of PPE’s by China’s Guangdong Province to assist the Pacific to help with local anti-epidemic measures. The supplies include 200,000 face masks, 200,000 pairs of surgical gloves, 50,000 protective suits, 10,000 COVID-19 test kits, 300 infrared thermometers.
“China is a genuine friend to Fiji, and we are committed to assisting our friends in Fiji and the Pacific. China will always be here to support our friends here in Fiji and likewise the other Pacific Island countries. In fact, there are progressive discussions to establish Fiji as the hub in terms of coordinating and facilitating major programmes and assistance for the Pacific Island countries,” Ambassador Bo said.
In recognition of the assistance provided, the Fijian Government expressed appreciation to the People’s Republic of China for this timely assistance, which complements Fiji’s national strategic efforts in containing COVID19.
It is a demonstration of the longstanding co-operation that Fiji and China have established in socio-economic development and the enhancement of the livelihoods of Fijian communities.