In China, the loading of another plane with medical supplies designed to combat the spread of COVID-19 in Ukraine has been completed, the Ukraine’s Embassy in China said.
“Today, on April 2, at the international airport in Xiamen (Fujian province), the loading of another plane with medical supplies for Ukraine has been completed. About 109 m3 of medical protective equipment for Ukrainian citizens were loaded on board the aircraft,” the Ukrainian Embassy in China said on Facebook on Thursday.
In addition, the preparation of several more aircraft with a similar mission is currently being agreed with the PRC authorities.
Ukrainian diplomats explained that the flight is carried out within the framework of an air bridge between Ukraine and China, which was built with the aim of delivering the most necessary medical supplies to Ukraine as quickly as possible to counter the spread of COVID-19.
The Embassy also provides support for this campaign in the PRC in cooperation with the Coordination Council on countering the spread of COVID-19 under the President of Ukraine and the Consulate General of Ukraine in Shanghai. The Ukrainian participants of the campaign are assisted in communication with Chinese partners.
Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Dmytor Kuleba has held a video conversation with Chinese Ambassador to Ukraine Fan Xianrong, during which he thanked the PRC for the party of humanitarian aid that will arrive in Ukraine on Wednesday, the press service of the Foreign Ministry has said.
“Kuleba expressed gratitude to China for helping Ukraine in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic and the humanitarian aid party, which will arrive in Ukraine on April 1. It will include PCR tests, remote thermometers, medical glasses and other personal protective equipment for medical personnel,” the message said.
The parties also agreed to continue cooperation in this area. In particular, Xianrong, at the request of Kuleba, confirmed the possibility of facilitating the centralized delivery to Ukraine of the assistance that Chinese cities collected for Ukrainian twin cities.
In addition, with the aim of developing a strategic partnership between Ukraine and China tomorrow, April 1, Kuleba and Wang Yi will hold the first telephone conversation between the foreign ministers of the two countries.
Among other things, the parties discussed trade and investment between the countries, in particular, promising projects that could soon be implemented in Ukraine with the participation of the Chinese side.
“Supporting Ukrainian exporters is my priority. According to the results of 2019, China has become the main trading partner for Ukraine. The trade turnover between our countries reached a record $12.8 billion. This year we must not only maintain, but also develop this success by balancing the structure of trade,” Kuleba said.
A Ukrainian National Guard’s Antonov An-26 aircraft has delivered medical items to deal with the coronavirus infection from China to Lviv, a report posted on the Lviv International Airport’s Facebook account says.
“Arrived! Express tests for diagnosing coronavirus, medical facemasks of various level of protection, coverall suits and other articles necessary for countering epidemic spread,” the report says.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky has said that 1 million ‘express tests’ for coronavirus (COVID-19) will be supplied to Ukraine on Saturday, March 21.
“What we are lacking and what we have agreed on is ‘express tests’. That is what not only Ukraine, but also any European country needs now. We agreed with China and we are grateful to them. And a special thank you to Jack Ma [the founder of Alibaba Group] for help. He allocated $80 million. Thanks to him and thanks to Mr.Yaroslavksy [the owner of DCH], we are expecting the arrival of these ‘express tests’ to Ukraine on Saturday. They will be sufficient for around one million people,” he said in the Svoboda Slova (Freedom of Speech) program on the ICTV television channel on Monday.
The head of state stressed that all of these test kits will be supplied to hospitals.
He also said that a part of test kits will be delivered directly to the front line for Ukrainian servicemen, who are a category of people that cannot be isolated.
The State Service of Ukraine for Food Safety and Consumers’ Rights Protection has temporarily banned the import of domestic and wild animals from China to prevent the entry of coronavirus into Ukraine. “To minimize the risks of introduction of the pathogen Covid-19 into the territory of Ukraine, in accordance with Articles 33 and 96 of the law of Ukraine on veterinary medicine, taking into account the recommendations set out in the OIE Terrestrial Animal Health Code, the service temporarily prohibited the import to Ukraine from China of domestic animals (dogs, cats, etc.) and wild carnivores,” the press service of the agency said.
The agency also added that according to official information from the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) in Hong Kong (China), a SARS-CoV-2 disease of an animal (dog) was recorded.
“The State Service for Food Safety and Consumers’ Rights Protection constantly monitors the situation with animal diseases in the world,” it said.
China expects Ukraine to provide state guarantees for investing $600 million in the construction of a new unit at Sloviansk thermal power plant (TPP, PJSC Donbasenergo), Liu Jun, the adviser for trade and economic issues at the Embassy of China in Ukraine, has said.
“The Chinese side is ready to invest more than $600 million in this project, provided that the Ukrainian side provides state guarantees,” he said in an exclusive interview with Interfax-Ukraine.
Jun recalled that the investment agreement between Dongfang Electric International Corporation (DEIC) and Donbasenergo for the joint implementation of the project was signed in December 2018.
“The construction of the sixth power unit is a new serious potential joint project between Ukraine and China. I am sure that its implementation will bring great benefits for both the Ukrainian people and Chinese enterprises,” he said.
As reported, the contract between DEIC and Donbasenergo provides for the construction of power units Nos. 6A and 6B of 330 MW each at Sloviansk TPP using CFB technology (burning solid fuel in a circulating fluidized bed).
The contract price is $684.296 million. Financing for the reconstruction foresees 70% of funds of a credit from a Chinese bank.
