A total of 4,000 medical masks donated by the government of Harbin to its sister city of Noceva in Italy – to help in the fight against the COVID-19 epidemic – successfully arrived at the destination on March 26, according to local officials.
 
Francisco Cardamo, deputy mayor of Noceva, expressed his sincere thanks to Harbin – capital city of China’s northernmost Heilongjiang province -- for their help during this most difficult time.
 
The masks were distributed to local citizens, policemen and staff members of banks and supermarkets, encouraging them to take personal protection when they go out.
 
Harbin and Noceva established sister city relationship during this year's ice and snow festival in the Chinese city.
 
On March 11, the Italian city’s deputy mayor appealed to the Harbin Foreign Affairs Office for medical assistance due to the severe situation caused by the spread of the epidemic in Italy amid an acute shortage of medical material supplies.
 
On March 15, Harbin reached out to help while its own local supplies were still tight, sending the sister city 4,000 surgical masks manufactured by Harbin Pharmaceutical Group.
 
Since the outbreak, Harbin has received sincere help and support from international friendship cities and compassionate people, local officials said.
 
As the fight against the virus has becomes a global struggle, Harbin has kept a close eye on the virus outbreak in its sister cities and has been making arrangements to provide medical supplies.
 
To date, Harbin has donated 3,000 surgical masks and 17,000 disposable medical masks to Asahikawa in Japan and donated 500 sets of gowns and 500 goggles to Koroskacerna in Slovenia.
 
In the near future, Harbin will also donate medical supplies -- such as masks, protective gowns and goggles -- to its sister cities. These include Niigata in Japan, Uzice in Serbia, Edmonton in Canada, Philadelphia in the US, Wiener Neustadt in Austria, Incheon in South Korea and Ploiesti in Romania.