MANILA / KABUL, May 14 (Xinhua)-China's Ministry of National Defense has donated a batch of medical supplies, including over 80,000 pieces of surgical masks, protective goggles and suits, to help the Philippines combat COVID-19 epidemic, the Chinese embassy said on Wednesday.

Chinese Ambassador Huang Xilian voiced hope that the new batch of protective medical supplies, which were turned over to Philippine Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana on Tuesday night, will help the Philippines contain the spread of the disease at the soonest possible time.

"We hope these urgently-needed medical supplies could be allotted to the frontliners as soon as possible so as to provide effective protection for them," Huang said in a statement.

Huang added that "the anti-pandemic cooperation" between China and the Philippines and their respective armed forces "have showed a valuable spirit of mutual support and help."

Recently, he said, a Philippine military aircraft shuttled between the two countries almost daily to bring back medical supplies bought by the Philippine government from China. China has facilitated the flight and transportation permits of the Philippine military aircraft, he added.

When the Philippine navy vessel BRP Bacolod City (LS-550) traveled to Zhangzhou Port in Fujian, China, to ship back medical supplies, Huang said, China not only swiftly issued a special permit, but also sent its navy ship to escort the Philippine navy vessel.

Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Huang Xilian (L, Front) hands a box of donation to Philippine National Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana (R, Front) at Villamor Air Base in Manila, the Philippines on May 12, 2020. (Xinhua / Rouelle Umali)

"All the above demonstrates both China's sincerity in helping the Philippines fight the pandemic and Chinese army's goodwill towards the Philippine military and its people," Huang said.

He added, "China will as always, stand together with the Philippine government and people to jointly overcome the pandemic till the day of a final victory."

Lorenzana thanked China's military for the new batch of medical supplies, saying he appreciated China's support to facilitate the Philippine military aircraft and navy vessel to bring back the much-needed medical supplies from China.

"That will go a long way to help our fight against COVID-19," Lorenzana said, adding that the Philippine Defense Department will distribute the medical supplies to all government hospitals and private hospitals that are in dire need of protective supplies.

Moreover, Lorenzana said he was pleased to see the militaries of the two countries play an active role in the fight against the COVID-19. He added that the cooperation will further contribute to the deepening mutual understanding and trust between the two militaries.

"We are thankful to the PLA for this donation. That will go a long way to help our fight against COVID-19," Lorenzana told a virtual coronavirus media briefing, referring to the Chinese People's Liberation Army.

Chinese Ambassador to Afghanistan Wang Yu (3rd L) and Afghan Deputy Defence Minister Munira Yusufzada (4th L) pose for photo at a hand-over ceremony in Kabul, capital of Afghanistan on May 12, 2020. (Xinhua / Chen Xin)

Earlier on Tuesday, the hand-over ceremony of medical supplies provided by the Chinese military to its Afghan counterpart was held in Kabul.

"The military forces of China and Afghanistan have a long history of mutual help and support," Chinese Ambassador Wang Yu said at the ceremony which was also attended by Deputy Defence Minister of Afghanistan Munira Yusufzada.

"The virus sees no borders, and is the common enemy of all human-kind," Wang added. "Only by solidarity and joint efforts can we defeat the virus."

Yusufzada expressed gratitude to Ambassador Wang on behalf of the Afghan military forces, saying that the medical assistance provided by the Chinese military is very timely, and will play a significant role in Afghanistan's fight against the COVID-19.

"The Afghan military forces are willing to enhance cooperation with the Chinese military in all fields, including fighting the pandemic," Yusufzada said.

This is the third batch of medical assistance China has provided to Afghanistan since the outbreak of the COVID-19 in the war-torn country in late February.  ■