Chinese President Xi Jinping announced Thursday an aid package of 200 million yuan (about $32.54 million) for West African countries to combat Ebola, including Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea.

The aid will include cash, food and materials, announced Xi who is on a state visit to India, adding that his country will also provide the World Health Organization with $2 million in cash and give the African Union the same amount.

The spreading of Ebola in West Africa has been a severe challenge for the international community, including China and India, Xi said.

The new aid is aimed at helping Liberia, Sierra Leon, Guinea and other countries fight Ebola, enhancing epidemic prevention capability of surrounding countries and supporting regional organizations concerned to play a leading and coordinating role in fighting the epidemic, he noted.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei said Wednesday that a 59-member Chinese laboratory team was dispatched to help Sierra Leone improve lab testing as part of the fight against Ebola.

Previously, China had sent medical supplies and 115 medical experts to Guinea, Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea Bissau.

(Xinhua News Agency September 18, 2014)