Workers load disaster-relief materials bound for Italy at Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport on March 10, 2020. [Photo by Wang Jianlong/for chinadaily.com.cn]

A chartered cargo plane departed from Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport at 5:50 am on Wednesday, carrying 4,556 packs of disaster-relief materials to epidemic-hit Italy.

The materials, the first batch from Zhejiang province, included medical face masks, N95 masks, gowns, protective clothing, goggles and latex gloves donated by people from all walks of life in Zhejiang, which has a population of more than 300,000 currently living and tapping business opportunities in Italy.

A chartered cargo plane departed from Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport at 5:50 am on Wednesday, carrying 4,556 packs of disaster-relief materials to epidemic-hit Italy. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Many of the materials, weighing 26.4 metric tons in total, were donated by counties of Qingtian and Wencheng, the hometowns of most overseas Chinese in Zhejiang.

China will overcome difficulties and provide Italy with medical supplies and will increase exports of supplies and equipment to meet the urgent need, State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Tuesday.

Workers load disaster-relief materials bound for Italy at Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport on March 10, 2020. [Photo by Wang Jianlong/for chinadaily.com.cn]

In a telephone conversation with Italian Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio, Wang said that China would like to send medical teams to Italy to help combat the novel coronavirus.

Chinese cities and provinces that enjoy sister cities with Italian peers, as well as Chinese enterprises, have pledged to offer a helping hand.

Italy has so far reported 10,149 confirmed COVID-19 cases, including 631 deaths and 1,004 people who have recovered.

Workers load disaster-relief materials bound for Italy at Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport on March 10, 2020. [Photo by Wang Jianlong/for chinadaily.com.cn]