"Let's Overcome COVID-19 Together" ... 380,000 Protective Supplies Provided from Various Regions in China

Donation of Masks and Protective Suits from Seoul Sister Cities and Embassies

[Asia Economy Reporter Jo In-kyung] Support and encouragement continue to come from various parts of China to help overcome the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) crisis.

On the 13th, Seoul City announced that seven cities, including China’s sister and friendship cities, the Chinese Embassy in Korea, and Chinese companies have donated or are scheduled to donate 195,510 masks and 185,200 quarantine supplies such as medical protective suits.

Beijing, Seoul’s sister city, sent a letter of appreciation earlier this month in the name of Mayor Chen Jining in response to a letter of consolation and encouragement sent by Mayor Park Won-soon at the end of January when China was making all-out efforts to respond to COVID-19. Beijing also conveyed that it is preparing to ship a total of 194,810 quarantine supplies including surgical dental masks, isolation gowns, hand sanitizers, and thermal imaging cameras.

Shandong Province, a friendship city, delivered 56,000 quarantine supplies such as sterile protective suits, goggles, N95 masks, and dental masks to Seoul on the 9th. Along with the supplies, they sent a message of encouragement: "Gandammaesangjo, Binghoyeonghanwol (肝?每相照, ??映寒月: A deep friendship that reveals everything to each other transparently like cold moonlight reflected in a jade teapot)."

Chongqing City and Sichuan Province donated 45,000 quarantine supplies including N95 masks and dental masks on the 11th. Sichuan Province also sent a message of support: "Sumangsangjo, Pungudongju (守望相助, ?雨同舟: Helping each other in the face of disaster and riding the same boat through the storm)."

Tianjin City reported that it has secured 37,900 donated items such as medical masks and medical protective suits and is currently preparing to ship them to Seoul. Liaoning Province and Heilongjiang Province have also expressed their intention to support quarantine supplies necessary to overcome COVID-19, and specific details are being discussed.

The Chinese Embassy in Korea donated 25,000 quarantine masks to Seoul on the 12th. The box containing the supplies bore a message of encouragement from a passage in "Sehando" by the calligrapher Kim Jeong-hui: "Sehan Songbaek Jangmusangmang (歲寒松柏 長毋相忘: Like the pine and cypress that remain steadfast in the cold, let us never forget our friendship for a long time)."

China’s Fuxing Group donated 22,000 items including medical protective suits, masks, goggles, and shoe covers to Seoul on the 6th of this month.

Seoul City plans to use the masks among these quarantine supplies from China for vulnerable groups susceptible to infection such as basic livelihood security recipients, residents of jjokbangchon (small rooms or slum areas), mobile workers, and workers in vulnerable occupations like call centers. Medical quarantine supplies will be used by medical staff working at screening clinics or public health centers.

Mayor Park Won-soon of Seoul said, "We will transparently share information and maintain close communication with sister and friendship cities around the world to overcome COVID-19," adding, "The solidarity and joint response efforts of cities confronting infectious diseases will not only help overcome COVID-19 but also contribute to strengthening exchanges and cooperation among countries and friendly regions."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.