Chinese diplomats help New York with medical gear

Medical supplies sent by the Chinese government to help New York City fight the coronavirus arrived over the weekend.

Chinese diplomatic missions announced the delivery at a virtual hand-over ceremony via Zoom on Tuesday.

The shipment of personal protective equipment (PPE) was coordinated by the Chinese Consulate General in New York and the Permanent Mission of China to the United Nations. It included 25,000 N95 masks, 2,000 protective suits and 75,000 pairs of medical gloves.

"All of our staff and family members see ourselves as New Yorkers, and always want to reach out to help," Huang Ping, China's consul general in New York, said at the virtual ceremony. He also paid tribute to the dedication displayed by healthcare professionals, first responders and medical researchers citywide.

Huang urged the two biggest economies in the world to lead the effort against the coronavirus. "This is not the time for finger-pointing. This is the time for solidarity, collaboration, cooperation and mutual support," he added.
Zhang Jun, China's permanent representative to the United Nations, stressed the importance of multilateralism and global cooperation. "We should stand firm against the politicization of the pandemic and remove all obstacles which hinder our cooperation," he said. "We need to support the United Nations and the WHO (World Health Organization) in playing a leading and coordinating role in defeating COVID-19, the common enemy of all mankind."

Zhang said that every day at 7 pm EDT, he and his wife, from their balcony, join their neighbors in clapping to support the city's essential workers. He believes that the "unity of all New Yorkers" will defeat the pandemic and bring "dynamic and colorful life" back to New York.

Consul General Huang Ping said that China also has donated 1,000 ventilators, 6.55 million masks, 310,000 pairs of surgical gloves, 150,000 goggles and 32,000 protective suits to the United States, much of it to New York, based on an estimate.

Penny Abeywardena, New York City's commissioner for international affairs, acknowledged China's contributions. "We are grateful for your support and your partnership. And we will not tolerate any harassment or discrimination of your community here," she said.

On Tuesday, New York governor Andrew Cuomo said at his daily press conference that the New York state recorded 481 new COVID-19 deaths and 1,308 new COVID-19 hospitalizations.

According to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University, there has infected more than 258,360 people across the state and 14,887 deaths in the New York City as of Tuesday.