The China Chamber of Commerce to the European Union holds a donation ceremony in Brussels on March 17 (COURTESY PHOTO)

The China Chamber of Commerce to the European Union (CCCEU) and Bank of China (Luxembourg) S.A. have donated 20,000 medical-use masks to Italy on March 17. This is the first step by the CCCEU to mobilize much-needed medical resources for the country that is the epicentre of the COVID-19 outbreak in Europe.

With the coordination of the China Mission to EU, the European Commission, the Permanent Representation of Italy to the EU, and the Italian Civil Protection, the medical supplies are being transported from Brussels to Rome and they will be distributed in the Emilia Romagna region.

Xia Xiang, Minister-Counsellor for Economic and Commercial Affairs at China Mission to the EU has attended the donation ceremony held in Brussels.

"We are extremely sad that the situation is worsening in Europe, especially in Italy. At this critical time, solidarity counts. The China Chamber of Commerce to the EU and its members stand together with the Italian people to weather this storm," Zhou Lihong, CCCEU Chairperson said.

According to Zhou, the donation of 20,000 masks is just the beginning of the efforts made by the Chamber and its members to fight the COVID-19 in Europe. The CCCEU has also set up a taskforce to coordinate resource-mobilization and donations to help European friends.

"We are confident that we will be victorious in Italy and in Europe if we are together and if strict anti-virus measures are implemented," Zhou said.