China and South Korea join in providing assistance

Cooperation the key

South Korean Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha said close cooperation with China has been vital for her country's ability to respond promptly to the pandemic.

"We quickly approved the testing system after the Chinese authorities released the genetic sequence of the virus in mid-January. Our health authorities quickly confer with research institutions and share the results with domestic pharmaceutical companies who then produce the reagent and equipment needed for testing," Kang said.

She stressed the importance of sharing information, especially after the WHO declared the outbreak a pandemic. "As we are risking the spread of the virus now turning into a spread of fear, countries should work together not only to fight the virus but also rumors and discrimination," Kang added.

Wang Junsheng, an Asia Pacific studies expert at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said that during the early stages of the outbreak, South Korea sent a large amount of medical equipment to China, including 2 million face masks, 1 million medical masks, 100,000 hazmat suits and 100,000 pairs of goggles.

After the outbreak struck South Korea, China also offered prompt help, Wang said. On March 6, Xing Haiming, China's ambassador to South Korea, said Beijing would assist Seoul by providing 1.1 million masks, 10,000 protective suits and 50,000 testing reagents.