LISBON – China will continue to support Portugal in its fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, Chinese Ambassador to Portugal Cai Run said this week.
“China has actively supported the Portuguese and European sides in combating the pandemic by providing relevant materials and facilitating procurement of preventive materials in China,” the ambassador said in an interview with state broadcaster RTP on Monday.
He noted that according to preliminary statistics to date, donations from China that have arrived or are arriving in Portugal include 632,000 medical masks, 135,000 N95 masks, 102,000 pairs of medical gloves, 6,450 protective suits, 3,500 goggles, 5,000 nucleic acid test kits, and over 100 ventilators, among others.
The donations were made by China’s provincial and municipal governments, Chinese companies operating in Portugal and the Chinese communities in Portugal, said the ambassador.
He told RTP that China has also shared its experience in preventing, testing and treating COVID-19 and the diseases caused by the novel coronavirus, pledging that China will continue with its support.
“The Chinese side will continue to provide more donations, and at the same time, offer assistance to the Portuguese side in their purchase of these materials in China,” Cai said.
The ambassador also expressed his appreciation of the solidarity and support the Portuguese government and people have offered to China during its critical fight against the pandemic.
The joint efforts in combating COVID-19 by the two countries will “deepen the Sino-Portuguese comprehensive strategic partnership as well as the friendship and mutual trust between the two peoples,” he noted.
– Xinhua
