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We express the gratitude to the Ambassador, the Chinese people and government for this aid,” has said Deputy Foreign Minister Etjen Xhafaj
TIRANA – A second contingent of medical aid from China has arrived in Tirana which as the Ambassador Zhou Ding said is an expression of the love of the Chinese people for the Albanian people.
The Ambassador made that comment in a ceremony organized at the ‘Mother Teresa’ Airport on Saturday for the handing over of medical equipments related to the combat against Covid-19 which was attended by the Deputy Foreign Minister, Etjen Xhafaj, Deputy Health Minister Mira Rakacolli as well as other officials.
“I am very pleased that today we are receiving the Chinese aid in the presence of Albanian ministers. Now it is difficult to get such aid because all the countries in the world are in need of such medical materials, and the transport makes things more difficult,” said Ambassador Zhou, who, however, recalled the old saying: “Good friend is known in difficult time!”
This is the second contingent of medical aid coming from China. The first one was delivered on March 31, 2020 and was described by the Institute of Public Health (ISHP) as a donation coming in difficult moments as a generous gesture of a great country and with an even greater heart.
As it was revealed in Saturday’s ceremony the second contingent of the medical aid includes test kits, gloves, and other protective materials for the Albanian medical staff.
Ambassador Zhou expressed the wish that Albania will overcome this difficulty as soon as possible.
“In general Albania has conducted well the fight against the pandemic and the infectious rate is the lowest in the Western Balkans. I am convinced that Albania will win this battle soon,” said Beijing’s top envoy to Tirana.
In conclusion the Ambassador did not spare the high appreciation for the work done by the Albanian medical staff by saying: “I want to conclude by expressing respect for all those who contribute to this fight, particularly to the medical staff who are on the frontline.”
As the host receiving the medical aid the Deputy Health Minister, Mira Rakacolli expressed the gratitude for the donation which, according to her, consists of test kits and other protective materials and they will add to the existing capacities.
“These are protective materials which are needed by all the countries in the world and we thank the Chinese government for the offered aid because as the President of the WHO has said this worldwide challenge will be overcome through solidarity,” said the number two of the Health Ministry.
Being more specific Mrs. Rakacolli said that the current aid consists of 5000 test kits, and other medical equipment needed in the combat against Covid-19.
In his remarks the Deputy Foreign Minister, Etjen Xhafaj expressed the gratitude of the Albanian people for the Chinese government’s aid, which, as he said, is the second one within a short time.
“As the Ambassador has already said we have that saying that the ‘friend in need, is a friend indeed’. This medical aid is very useful and helpful for the medical staff, which is on the frontline of the battle,” said the senior diplomat.
Mr. Xhafaj expressed the hope that we will succeed in this combat by respecting the preventive measures like the social distancing. Further on, he evaluated the good work done by the Albanian medical staff.
Further on the Deputy FM said: “We express the gratitude to the Ambassador, the Chinese people and government for this aid that will serve very much to win this combat which we will definitely win.”
In a talk show on News 24 TV on April 22 this year Ambassador Zhou spoke of the titanic fight of China against the coronavirus pandemic and took the opportunity to declare that China had nothing to hide about the virus and the pandemic to anyone.
“As I have said since the outset, the Chinese government undertook strict measures which were not understood by many countries initially. Some countries accused China that those measures had violated freedom and human rights. But these measures have proved to be effective,” he said during the interview.
Ambassador Zhou noted that even after 2-3 months of the pandemic the measures taken in some countries have not given results. China implemented the measures in a decisive and active way,” said the Chinese Ambassador.
As of Saturday there are now 1.89 million cases of COVID-19 worldwide and 118,304 people have died, according to data aggregated by Johns Hopkins University. At least 444,492 people have recovered. The US leads the world in number of cases at 560,891 and 22,935 deaths. Italy has 159,516 cases and 20,465 deaths, the highest death toll in Europe. France has 133,685 cases and 14,986 fatalities. Germany has 128,002 cases and 3,038 deaths.
The U.K. surpassed China in case numbers at 89,564. At least 11,346 Britons have died of the illness. China’s official case tally is 83,213 and 3,345 deaths. Iran, another hot spot, has 73,303 cases and 4,585 deaths. /argumentum.al
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