On April 4, the handover ceremony of the first batch of medical supplies donated by China to Dominica is held at the China-Dominica Friendship Hospital.  Provided by Jack Ma Foundation and Alibaba Foundation, these supplies, including 1,536 nucleic acid test kits and 30,000 surgical masks, will be used for COVID-19 epidemic containment efforts in Dominica. Hon. Kenneth Darroux, Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Business and Diaspora Relations, Hon. Irving McIntyre, Minister of Health, Wellness and New Health Investment of Dominica as well as H.E. Lu Kun, Chinese Ambassador to Dominica attended the ceremony and delivered a speech respectively.

Ambassador Lu said that when the epidemic was taking heavy toll in China, the Dominican government and people stood in solidarity with China in its disease control efforts. Dominican Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit spoke in Parliament supporting China and headed all Cabinet members to the Chinese Embassy to express solidarity for China. Despite difficulties, the Dominican government managed to donate masks to China. Other people from all sectors of Dominican society also expressed their support. Lu said that reciprocating an act of kindness is a fine tradition of the Chinese nation. Though still in huge demand for medical materials, China has managed to make the donation to Dominica in a short period of time. Lu mentioned that more medical supplies donated by the Chinese Government and Embassy to Dominica including ventilators, N95 surgical masks, medical protective clothing, goggles, disposable medical gloves, disposable medical boot covers and forehead thermometers would also come soon. Lu emphasized China wishes to enhance cooperation with Dominica in the fight against the epidemic and further strengthen China-Dominica relations and the friendship between the two peoples.

(Chinese Ambassador Lu Kun)

Minister Darroux and Minister McIntyre said that the first batch of medical supplies donated by China was very timely and important to Dominica and thanked China and Chinese Embassy for their medical aid and great help, which demonstrated that China and Dominica were true friends sharing weal and woe. The two ministers stressed that Dominica would continue to firmly adhere to one-China principle and expected that the two countries strengthen cooperation in the fight against COVID-19 and deepen bilateral relations.

(Dominican Health Minister McIntyre)

(Dominican Foreign Minister Darroux)

Dominican national television GIS and Prime Minister Skerrit's Facebook conducted a live broadcast of the ceremony, and mainstream media such as Dominica News Online made special reports on the above donation.