BEIJING – China’s People’s Liberation Army dispatched its aircraft to transport a 10-member medical expert team and epidemic prevention materials to Pakistan to join the country’s efforts to battle the Covid-19 epidemic.
The shipment arrived in Pakistani capital, Islamabad, on Saturday where an exceptional and warm welcome was accorded to the Chinese military delegation.
“2nd sortie of medical emergency relief items against COVID19 from People Republic of China reached Pakistan today, including PCR Testing Kits, Surgical Masks, Protective Suits, N95 masks and Ventilators,” ISPR stated in a tweet.
Chinese Embassy also acknowledged the posted tweet. “Thank you @pid_gov @OfficialDGISPR
for acknowledging China’s efforts in helping Pakistan in times of difficulty. Friend in need is friend indeed. Together we can make difference. Ramadan Mubarak”.
The shipment reflects the high-level of mutual trust and friendly relations between China and Pakistan. The People’s Liberation Army (PLA) medical teams are the most experienced force in China in handling public health crises, said a statement issued by the Ministry of National Defense of China.
It said the Central Military Commission approved the Chinese Air Force to dispatch aircraft to deliver emergency medical supplies and professional medical teams for anti-pandemic efforts.
This is not the first time that China has helped Pakistan fight the virus. An eight-member medical expert team organized by the Chinese government also arrived in Islamabad, on March 28 to help the country fight the pandemic.
When China was fighting a tough fight against Covid-19 during the early stages of the pandemic, Pakistan provided various forms of aid to China.
On February 1, Pakistan was one of the first countries to airlift medical masks from its public hospitals to China, even though it faced a shortage of masks.
The PLA medical teams are much more experienced than most medical teams in China, since they accomplished a series of tough missions in the past, including the fight against SARS in 2003, providing medical aid after the Wenchuan Earthquake in 2008 and the battle in Africa against the Ebola virus, as well as many UN peacekeeping missions, said Song Zhongping, a military expert and TV commentator.
