Anti-pandemic aid package reaches Solomon Islands

A transport aircraft from the Chinese People's Liberation Army Air Force carrying anti-pandemic assistance materials arrived on Friday in Honiara, capital of the Solomon Islands, showing China's firm support to the government and people of the Oceanian country.

The move came as confirmed cases of COVID-19 on the archipelagic country suddenly spiked, creating another severe challenge for its government and people since the capital riots in November last year.

At the request of the Solomon Islands, China has gathered the necessary materials at rapid speed and delivered them by overcoming various difficulties.

The assistance materials weigh more than 20 tons in total and include 320 thousand nucleic acid test reagents, 20 oxygen machines and 20 oximeters, 180 thousand gloves, 20 thousand goggles and 10 thousand protective suits.

The assistance came from the Chinese central government, the government of Guangdong province as well as China's Ministry of Public Security.

China has recently offered great support and help to the Solomon Islands to tackle social unrest and COVID-19, which has received a warm response from locals.

The first batch of police supplies donated by China weighing three tons arrived in the country on Dec 29. In January, a chartered flight from the Chinese government with a police consultation team, an expert team on construction projects and other materials also arrived.