China to provide another 100 mln masks, 10 mln protective suits to ASEAN countries

Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-14 20:51:58|Editor: huaxia

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang attends a special summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, China, Japan and the Republic of Korea (ASEAN Plus Three countries or 10+3) on COVID-19 via video link in Beijing, April 14, 2020. (Xinhua/Wang Ye)

Premier Li said, China supports ASEAN in setting up a COVID-19 ASEAN response fund, and will provide necessary support through the ASEAN-China Cooperation Fund and APT Cooperation Fund.

BEIJING, April 14 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Li Keqiang announced Tuesday that China will provide another 100 million face masks, 10 million protective suits and other urgently needed medical supplies to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries as grant assistance and via commercial channels.

Li made the remarks in Beijing while attending a special summit of ASEAN, China, Japan and the Republic of Korea (ASEAN Plus Three or APT) on COVID-19 via video link.

Li said China proposes leveraging the complementarity in medical supplies and industrial chains of APT countries to more effectively tackle emergencies.

Workers make protective suit in a workshop of Yadu Group in Changyuan, central China's Henan Province, April 9, 2020. (Xinhua/Li Jianan)

China supports ASEAN in setting up a COVID-19 ASEAN response fund, and will provide necessary support through the ASEAN-China Cooperation Fund and APT Cooperation Fund, said Li, adding that China suggests an APT reserve of essential medical supplies be established to make responses faster and emergency supplies more readily available.

APT countries should support the WHO playing a leading role and work together to safeguard regional and global public health, Li said.

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