The Government of Japan has donated personal protective equipment to China in efforts to help in the protection against the 2019 Novel Coronavirus.
4,800 safety goggles and 5,200 isolation suits were released from the ASEM Stockpile of Anti-viral Drugs and Personal Protective Equipment stored in Singapore to the Government of Japan, who transported the equipment to the Wuhan Tianhe International Airport on 7 February 2020.
Photo source: ANA Cargo Inc.
The stockpile is part of the ASEM Initiative for the Rapid Containment of Pandemic Influenza funded by the Government of Japan. The initiative was launched in 2009 after ASEM Leaders stated their determination to combat a possible human influenza pandemic at the 7th ASEM Summit.
It also comprises the ASEF Public Health Network, which is one of the major projects at ASEF. The activities by the ASEF Public Health Network compliments the stockpile initiative and its mission is to increase ASEM Partners’ capacity to fight against emerging infectious diseases across Asia and Europe, including pandemic influenza.