RIYADH — The King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSRelief) signed on Thursday six joint contracts with a number of international companies for the provision of medical equipment and supplies to combat the novel Coronavirus (Covid-19) in China and that is in coordination with the Chinese embassy in the Kingdom. This follows the directives issued recently by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman to KSRelief to provide urgent assistance to China in order to contain the spread of the coronavirus. Assistant General Supervisor of KSRelief for Administrative and Financial Affairs Dr. Salah Al Mazroui signed the contracts in the ceremony held in the presence of Chen Weiqing, ambassador of China to the Kingdom. The first contract was signed with the Canadian company Extra Med for the provision of 300,000 N95 type masks. Al-Mazroui signed a contract with the American company General Electric to provide 60 acoustic devices, as well as another contract to secure 30 respirators, 89 cardiac shock devices, and 200 intravenous pumps with the Chinese company Mindray. He signed a contract with the Chinese company Aiden Investments for the provision of 277 patient monitoring devices, another contract for the provision of 500 intravenous pumps with the Chinese company Meditech, and a contract to provide three dialysis devices with the Chinese company Javron, and a final contract to secure 1,000 insulated clothing with the Norwegian company IBI Guard. At the outset of the ceremony, the attendees witnessed a video presentation prepared by the Chinese embassy, in which it thanked the Kingdom for the great initiative in providing health assistance to confront the epidemic. Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Abdullah Al-Rabeeah, advisor of the Royal Court and general supervisor of KSRelief, said that the center is pleased to sign joint contracts to support China to combat Covid-19 and that is in implementation of the directives of King Salman. He said the contracts include the provision of 1,159 diagnostic, preventive and curative medical equipment, 300,000 N95 masks, 1,000 insulating clothing and other important materials that are used in such crises. Dr. Al-Rabeeah said this rapid response from the King comes as an affirmation of the strong relationship between the two countries and the depth of historical friendship between the Kingdom and China, noting that this noble initiative reflects the Kingdom's pioneering humanitarian role that leads the world in humanitarian initiatives and standing in the fight against crises facing countries and societies. It also shows the Kingdom's efforts to support stability and sustainable development in the world. On his part, Ambassador Weiqing said: "In the midst of the Chinese government's efforts to combat Covid-19, King Salman made a phone call to Chinese President Xi Jinping to express his unstinted support to China to combat the epidemic and directed KSRelief to provide aid to China in a way that contributes to preventing and controlling the epidemic. "This consignment of relief materials was like a raindrop to doctors and patients in Wuhan and other regions, which reflects the sincere feelings of the government and people of Saudi Arabia towards the Chinese people," he said. On behalf of the Chinese government, the ambassador appreciated the King, Crown Prince and the government and people of Saudi Arabia for the humanitarian gesture. He also thanked Dr. Al-Rabeeah and the KSRelief staff for their arduous efforts to prepare these materials on an urgent manner, saying: "This conveys their love to the hearts of the Chinese people, who will not forget the Kingdom's assistance to China after the Wenchuan earthquake in 2008." Weiqing stressed that public health security in the era of globalization is related to the common destiny of all humanity, and the strong measures China is taking not only to protect the lives and health of the Chinese people, but also contribute to ensuring health in the world as a whole. "Saudi Arabia, in its capacity as the current chair of the G20 Summit, has made preserving planet earth as one of the main themes of the summit and that international solidarity is the best way to face the challenges of viral diseases and isolate them," he said, while pointing out that China and the Kingdom highlighted the spirit of solidarity with the world during disasters and diseases in previous years. "Although we are still facing challenges, there are positive signs with the death rate of the Coronavirus remains around two percent, which is low and the number of confirmed cases of the disease has begun to decline in all parts of China except Hubei Province," he said, adding that the Chinese government took several preventive measures to control the disease.
