Harbin, capital city of China’s northernmost Heilongjiang province, has joined hands with its international sister cities and friendship cities to fight against the COVID-19 epidemic, according to local officials.
 
In the early stage of the epidemic outbreak in China, those international sister and friendship cities – as well as organizations and compassionate people from Russia, Japan, the Philippines, Singapore, Canada, Slovenia, Israel and Austria, Serbia, Germany and other countries – sent letters and videos to express condolences and support to Harbin.
 
Officials said they reached out a helping hand, donating money and materials to help Harbin overcome its difficulties.
 
During the epidemic period, Harbin has received more than 30 kinds of medical materials and money from 12 countries and regions – including 380,000 medical face masks, 200,000 medical gloves, 100,000 protective caps, 4,500 sets of protective clothing, as well as temperature measuring guns, air disinfection machines, protective glasses, silicone resuscitators, laryngoscopes and more than 37,000 yuan ($5,218.40) in cash.
 
When Harbin got the all clear for local and imported COVID-19 cases, the city then reached out to help as the fight against the virus became a global struggle.
 
Harbin shared its experiences in epidemic prevention, donated medical materials and carried out active assistance.
 
To date, Harbin has donated 36,600 masks, 1,700 masks and 1,400 goggles to its sister cities in Japan, Italy, Slovenia, South Korea, Serbia, Romania, Canada, the United States, Latvia and Lithuania.
 
Officials said that 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.