China to mobilise its private companies to help India fight Covid-19 surge
- Beijing promises to meet Indian requests for supplies and to guide Chinese companies to actively provide support
- Foreign ministry also reminds India’s fellow members of US-led Quad to fulfil their international responsibilities
Wang Xiaojian, a spokesman for the Chinese embassy in India, said the country had the firm support of China’s government and its people in the fight against the pandemic. “We will encourage and guide Chinese companies to actively cooperate with India to facilitate acquiring medical supplies, and provide support and help according to India’s need,” he said, in an embassy statement on Monday night.
In separate remarks, foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said China and India were in communication over the pandemic response, and that Beijing would provide materials, if requested by New Delhi. He also called on India’s fellow members of the Quad security alliance – Australia, the United States and Japan – to help the stricken country.
“I hope these nations can jointly provide India and related countries with support and assistance within their capacity to fight the epidemic, and fulfil their due international responsibilities and obligations,” Wang said.
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Zhu Yongbiao, a professor of international relations at Lanzhou University, said China’s help was likely to include medical equipment, vaccines, and prevention and treatment plans, depending on the Indian government’s request and the pandemic situation. “China may also encourage and support Chinese-funded companies in India to provide assistance through non-governmental ways.”
Jasmine Cheng, a sales representative at Nanjing Bangwin Import & Export, a company specialising in gas products, said the firm had received hundreds of inquiries from potential customers in India for oxygen generators, cylinders and regulators.