China will facilitate foreign purchases of medical supplies: Ministry spokeswoman

China said on Tuesday that it will continue facilitating foreign purchases of medical supplies to fight COVID-19 and work with other countries to maintain the stability of global industrial chains of medical materials.

With Chinese enterprises resuming production, more material support for the international community in dealing with the pandemic will continue to be provided, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said at a daily news briefing.

China still needs a great amount of medical supplies, Hua said, refuting views saying that the country is stocking up on such supplies and did not offer a helping hand to the world in a timely manner.

Containing the pandemic at the domestic level and protecting the health of the Chinese people is the priority of the Chinese government, she said, adding that the country also provided relevant supplies to countries in need.

According to Hua, the Chinese government has provided 120 countries and four international organizations with medical supplies, including surgical and N95 masks, protective gear, nucleic acid testing kits and ventilators.

Thirty countries and two international organizations have signed commercial deals with Chinese export companies on purchasing products, including masks, protective gear and nucleic acid testing kits, she said.

Hua also said that Chinese local governments have donated medical materials to more than 50 countries through this channel, such as to sister cities, and Chinese enterprises have made donations to more than 100 countries and international organizations.