As COVID-19 is spreading rapidly around the globe, Ningxia stands by its international friendship cities in the fight against the disease. On May 15, medical supplies worth RMB 344,000 donated by Ningxia were shipped from Yinchuan to Tula Oblast of Russia, Shimane Prefecture of Japan and Harghita County of Romania. The donation, a token of Ningxia’s support, has shown how international friendship cities help each other during hard times. 

Together we will tide over the difficulties

Since Ningxia and Tula Oblast were tied as international friendship cities in October, 2019, the two sides have advanced friendly exchanges and pragmatic cooperation in many fields. When Ningxia was fighting hard to stop the spread of COVID-19 with insufficient medical supplies, Tula Oblast provided timely help with swift actions. As Russia is now faced with more and more challenging situation and supply shortage, Ningxia raised 1,000 N95 medical masks, 35,000 surgical masks and 500 medical protective suits which are worth RMB 126,030 for Tula Oblast. “Together we will tide over the difficulties” was printed in Chinese and Russian on the packages, delivering a message of support from Ningxia to its international friendship city. 

Let us get through this together

Shimane Prefecture, Japan is a well-known international friendship city of Ningxia. Since the two places established international friendship city relations in October, 1993, bilateral cooperation has been prospering in science, technology, health care, culture, youth exchanges, etc. An example of friendly interactions between China and Japan at sub-national level, the two places were respectively granted the Award to Friendship Cities for Exchanges and Cooperation and the Award to Friendship Cities for Exchanges and Cooperation with China. When Ningxia was hit by COVID-19, Shimane Prefecture was the first to send letter of sympathy among Ningxia’s international friendship cities and donated medical supplies despite its own difficulties. Recently confirmed COVID-19 cases began to emerge in Shimane Prefecture with a shortage of medical supplies. In view of this Ningxia offered to help Shimane Prefecture with a donation consisting of 15,000 disposable medical masks, 1,000 N95 medical masks and 500 medical protective suits worth RMB 111,880.

Far distance cannot separate us, and we all live in a united world

“Far distance cannot separate us, and we all live in a united world” was written on the packages of donation in both Chinese and English which will be delivered to Harghita County, Romania via international cargo flight. The donation, worth RMB 101,665 in total, consist of 15,000 surgical masks, 1,000 N95 medical masks and 500 medical protective suits. Since the establishment of international friendship city relations in November, 2005, the two sides have carried out pragmatic exchanges and cooperation in agriculture, animal husbandry and education. In the face of the pandemic, the governments of the two sides sent letters of support and sympathy to each other. As the global anti-virus cooperation deepens, the two sides will exchange experience and intensify interactions to combat the pandemic. 

International friendship city relations are an important platform for exchanges and cooperation at sub-national level and play a positive role in boosting local socioeconomic development. As COVID-19 strikes, Ningxia has been fighting against the disease hand in hand with its international friendship cities, exemplifying the practice of building a community with shared future for mankind. We are convinced that when the pandemic is over, the friendship between Ningxia and its international friendship cities will be deepened, yielding more fruitful results in bilateral cooperation.