Effective Chinese-developed fast test kits arrive in Manila

MANILA – China’s donation of 2000 fast test kits for COVID-19 virus jointly donated by the Chinese Embassy in the Philippines and the China Mammoth Foundation arrived in Manila to help the country’s fight against the COVID-19 epidemic.

In a statement released to the media today, the Embassy said China is ready to provide more test kits in the coming days. Chinese Ambassador Huang Xilian called Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea on the latest developments of China’s donation.

The high-tech fast test kits, developed by China BGI Group, have a capability to issue results in three hours. It was learned the kits have not only been widely used in China’s battle against the epidemic and proven to be quite effective, but also been exported to more than 50 countries including Japan, Thailand, Brunei, Egypt, Peru and the United Arab Emirates.

“Virus knows no boundary and humanity and knows no nationality. Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 epidemic, China and the Philippines have been supporting and helping each other, demonstrating a profound friendship between close neighbors, friends and brothers. President Xi Jinping and President Duterte have exchanged letters, expressing strong solidarity,” the statement further said.

The Chinese government and people greatly sympathize with the Philippine side and are very willing to lend a helping hand as China has been sharing their hard-won anti-epidemic experiences, carrying out close medical experts-level cooperation with the Philippine side.

Yesterday, March 15, Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi had a phone call with Philippine Foreign Secretary Teodoro L. Locsin, Jr. Wang thanked the Philippine government and people for giving China valuable support when the epidemic situation in China was severe.

The statement said noting the Philippines is China’s friendly neighbor across the sea, Wang said China is ready to do its utmost to help the Philippines, adding that China has decided to provide the Philippines with urgently-needed medical materials such as test kits and protective clothing, and will coordinate the dispatch of medical experts.

“State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang expressed belief that under the leadership of President Duterte, the Philippines will secure an early victory against the epidemic,” the statement concluded. (Melo M. Acuña)

Chinese Ambassador Hung Xilian. (File Photo/Melo M. Acuña)