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China donates US$75,000 in medical supplies to T&T

Loop News

December 14, 2021 3:16 PM ET

3 mins read

China is expressing its commitment to furthering cooperation with Trinidad and Tobago and has donated US$75,000 in medical supplies to aid in the country’s fight against COVID-19.

In a statement, the Ministry of Foreign and CARICOM Affairs said Minister Dr Amery Browne met with Chinese ambassador to Trinidad and Tobago Fang Qiu on December 9 to discuss strategies for cooperation.

The Ministry said the meeting took place prior to the handover of supplies for use in the health care system of Trinidad and Tobago.

The Ministry said the donation, valued at RMB 500,000 (approximately US$75,000), comprised 170,000 gloves and 170,000 syringes and is the materialisation of an offer made by the Government of the People’s Republic of China in December 2020 at a Special Meeting on COVID-19 in the context of China-Caribbean Consultations.

Dr Browne expressed appreciation for China’s interest in partnership with Trinidad and Tobago and for the further transfer of assistance with respect to personal protective equipment and support for the country’s health care efforts.

The Ambassador emphasised China’s interest in strengthening cooperation with the Caribbean in the post-COVID-19 era and, in this regard, referred to the establishment of the China-Caribbean Development Centre.

With specific reference to areas of priority for China’s cooperation with Trinidad and Tobago, he identified poverty alleviation, food security, COVID-19, financing for development, climate change and the green economy and industrialisation and digital economy and connectivity.

Fang also referred to the Global Development Initiative, pointing out that it falls well within Trinidad and Tobago’s National Development Strategy 2016-2030 (Vision 2030), including this country’s digital transformation goals.

The Ministry said it will follow up on the matters discussed with the relevant Ministries, in furtherance of Government’s efforts to achieve Trinidad and Tobago’s development objectives.

In his remarks during the brief ceremony, Ambassador Fang stated that the COVID-19 pandemic still posed a challenge, particularly in light of new surges of infection occurring around the world. Expressing the view that cooperation was required to combat the pandemic, the Ambassador noted that this was the approach taken by Trinidad and Tobago and China.

The ceremony concluded with the official handover of medical supplies by Ambassador Fang to Minister Browne and the signing of the hand-over certificates.

The Ministry said the medical supplies donated by the Government of the People’s Republic of China will be used in Trinidad and Tobago’s parallel healthcare system to treat COVID-19 patients and contribute to the mitigation of the spread of the virus.