China donates 2,000 COVID-19 fast test kits to Philippines to help fight virus spread

MANILA -- China donated 2,000 fast test kits for COVID-19 to the Philippines on Monday to help the country curb the fast rise in infected cases, the Chinese Embassy to the Philippines said.

The embassy said in a statement that the high-tech fast test kits, developed by China BGI Group, have a capability to issue results in three hours.

"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," the statement said.

The embassy reiterated that "China is ready to provide more test kits in the coming days."

The arrival of the COVID-19 test kits is timely as the virus cases were surging in the last few days in the Philippines. The Philippines now has 140 confirmed cases, including 12 deaths.

"In light of the epidemic situation in the Philippines, the Chinese government and people, greatly sympathizing with the Philippine side, are very willing to lend a helping hand," the statement said.

Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi spoke on the phone with Philippine Foreign Secretary Teodoro Locsin on Sunday to thank the Philippine government and its people "for giving China valuable support when the epidemic situation in China was severe."

"Noting that the Philippines is China's friendly neighbor across the sea," Wang reportedly said that China "is ready to do its utmost to help the Philippines."

Wang told Locsin that China "has decided to provide the Philippines with urgently-needed medical materials such as test kits and protective clothing, and will actively coordinate the dispatch of medical experts."

Wang also expressed belief that under the leadership of President Rodrigo Duterte, the Philippines will secure an early victory against the epidemic.