China-donated anti-flu goods arrives in Mexico

MEXICO CITY, April 30 (Xinhua) -- A cargo plane ferrying the first load of China-donated relief supplies to help Mexico battle an outbreak of Influenza A/H1N1 landed at a Mexico City airport early Friday.

The humanitarian aid, including masks, latex gloves, isolation coats, disinfectant and infrared thermometers, was received in a ceremony attended by Mexican President Felipe Calderon.

The goods are part of a 5 million U.S. dollar assistance package that the Chinese government has offered Mexico to help it fight the A/H1N1 flu outbreak.

China's donation was the first massive arrival of material assistance that has reached Mexico since the flu outbreak began in April.

Calderon said at the ceremony that China's help was appreciated. He noted that sanitary security was not only an issue for Mexico but also for the entire world.

Calderon said the methods China used while fighting the 2003 outbreak of SARS -- severe acute respiratory syndrome -- should be learned by Mexico.

The president expressed confidence that Mexico will win the battle with the virus through the efforts of its citizens and outside aid.

Yin Hengmin, the Chinese ambassador to Mexico, said his countrymen feel for Mexico, and the government is ready to offer help of any kind.

The Chinese Embassy on Thursday donated 50,000 U.S. dollars to the Red Cross in Mexico to help people there fight the flu, Yin said.

"We are convinced that Mexico... is capable of overcoming the epidemic and restoring the normal order of life and production in maximum brevity," the ambassador said.

The Chinese government on Thursday pledged 5 million dollars worth of humanitarian assistance to Mexico, including one million dollars in cash and four million dollars in medical supplies.

The funds were transferred to the Mexican government Thursday and the Chinese Ministry of Commerce (MOC) is coordinating with related government agencies to arrange the rest of the relief materials.

MOC spokesman Yao Jian said Friday that China was highly concerned about the situation in Mexico and nations should work together to counter the spread of the flu virus.

In addition to China, Spain, the United States, Japan and the World Bank also have offered aid to Mexico.

Mexican Health Minister Jose Angel Cordova said Thursday the number of confirmed Influenza cases has risen to 312, with 12 of them being fatalities.

(Xinhua)