Members of a Chinese anti-epidemic medical expert team to Palestine attend a departure ceremony at Jiangbei International Airport in Chongqing, southwest China, June 10, 2020.(Xinhua/Liu Chan)
"A friend in need is a friend indeed!" Palestinian prime minister thanks the Chinese medical expert team who arrived at Palestine to help fight against COVID-19.
RAMALLAH, June 11 (Xinhua) -- Palestinian prime minister on Thursday hailed the visit of a Chinese medical expert team tasked with helping Palestine fight against COVID-19.
Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Ishtaye (L, front) greets the Chinese medical expert team in the West Bank city of Ramallah, June 11, 2020. (Photo by Ayman Nobani/Xinhua)
Mohammad Ishtaye thanked the team and expressed his appreciation to the visit, which he said constitutes a message of "both medical and political solidarity."
"We are grateful that the team has come at the very right time," he said adding that there is a lot for Palestine to learn from the Chinese experience in fighting coronavirus.
Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Ishtaye (C) and members of Chinese medical team are in the West Bank city of Ramallah, on June 11, 2020.(Photo by Ayman Nobani/Xinhua)
Meanwhile, Guo Wei, director of the Office of the People's Republic of China to the State of Palestine, said that the importance of the visit lies in its timing, where it would help support the capacity of the Palestinian health system ahead of a possible new wave of the deadly disease as warned by the World Health Organization.
"We will seize this opportunity for both our peoples to exchange rich expertise and experiences in fighting the coronavirus. I have a firm belief that over the next seven days, there will be continued and in-depth exchanges in the medical and healthcare system to combat this pandemic," said Guo.
A member of Chinese anti-epidemic medical team (L) attends a meeting with Palestinian Health Minister Mai al-Kaila, (R) in the West Bank city of Ramallah, Wednesday, June 10, 2020.(Photo by Ayman Nobani/Xinhua)
The team, which arrived at Palestine on Wednesday, was put together by China's National Health Commission with the members selected by the Chongqing Municipal Health Commission.
The team is composed of experts from various fields, such as respiratory and infectious diseases, traditional Chinese medicine, epidemiology and nursing.
They are scheduled to hold a series of meetings and visits to quarantine centers and treatment centers in the West Bank.
"A friend in need is a friend indeed," the Palestinian prime minister said in reference to the continuous Chinese support to the Palestinian people.
Prior to this visit, China had sent medical supplies to Palestine and organized several meetings between Palestinian and Chinese medical experts via video conference.
So far, there were 665 cases confirmed in Palestine, including five deaths. ■
