NEW ANTI-EPIDEMIC MATERIALS ARRIVE
ITEMS COME FROM CHINA FOR US AS WELL AS OTHER PACIFIC NATIONS
Fiji-China Friendship Association President, said that because of the large number of countries involved, it took nearly eight weeks to make these sure the materials reached the South Pacific region.
On May 25, a special Charter flight loaded with medical supplies arrived at Nadi International Airport.
The special charter flew by Air Tahiti Nui, first arrived in Fiji after leaving Shanghai, and then immediately returned to Tahiti, with a total voyage of more than 11000 kilometres.
The materials which arrived included medical supplies for Fiji, Samoa, Tonga, Vanuatu and Tahiti.
Most of the medical supplies were purchased and donated by the Chinese government and non-governmental organisations.
Fiji’s medical supplies are supported and co-ordinated by the Chinese Embassy in Fiji, Fiji’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Fijian Embassy in China and the Fiji-China Friendship Association (FCFA).
The supplies were finally delivered to the South Pacific Island countries by chartered plane provided by the president of Tahiti.
The donation to Fiji mainly comes from the Chinese government and members of FCFA and China Chamber of Commerce in Fiji.
Fangfang Jamnadas, President of the FCFA, said that because of the large number of countries involved, it took nearly eight weeks for the FCFA (which is responsible for specific logistics co-ordination), to make these sure materials reached the South Pacific island.
“These materials include anti-epidemic supplies such as COVID-19 test reagents donated by the Chinese government, the Government of Guangdong Province and the Guangdong People’s Association for Friendship with foreign countries to the island countries; materials donated by the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC) to the Pacific China friendship Association (PCFA), as well as materials purchased by some Pacific island countries themselves.”
Michael Honglian Yang, Permanent Secretary of the South Pacific Island Countries Institute of Asia Studies (SPICIAS) said that the South Pacific region generally faces difficulties in transportation due to its vast area. Many countries lack large airplanes, so they do not have the ability to deliver anti-epidemic materials directly from China.
The charter flight was provided by the President of Tahiti, Édouard Fritch, who had the materials delivered to Tahiti and Fiji respectively, while the materials for other island countries were delivered from Fiji by small aircraft or ships.
“The success of this delivery is due to the strong co-ordination of the FCFA and the smoother emergency assistance mechanism between China and the South Pacific island countries.”
As a result of the timely closure measures adopted by the South Pacific Island countries, they have survived the spread of worldwide epidemics.
It is China’s love and active action for the people of the Pacific Island countries that have prevented more suffering and disasters.
Ms Jamnadas said like many other regions in the world, people from Pacific island countries also appreciated China’s goodwill. While the epidemic still exists in China, China has also helped the South Pacific Island countries, which is a truly responsible model of a big country.
“Many countries in the world that have learned from China’s experience have effectively controlled the epidemic, which is the result of joint efforts of many people. The new coronavirus is the common enemy that human beings face. It is an invisible and dangerous enemy. But I believe that with our efforts and love, we will eventually overcome it, “she said.