Jakarta. Indonesia receives hundreds of thousands of health equipment from China, including PCR testing kits, personal protective equipment, and masks on Friday.

Chinese Ambassador for Indonesia Xiao Qian delivered the aid packages to the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB), filled with about 100,000 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing kits, 70,000 PPEs, 70,000 N95 masks, and 1.3 million surgical masks.

“Through this health crisis which threatens humankind, the friendship between two countries and people will grow. I’m sure under the President Joko Widodo’s presidency, Indonesia will get through this pandemic,” Qian said in Jakarta on Friday.

Qian said that Chinese President Xi Jinping has pledged the country’s support to help Indonesia mitigates Covid-19 through a phone call with President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo.

The packages were sent gradually since May.

“We are very happy and thankful to the Chinese Government for giving a deeper meaning to our friendship. We will celebrate both countries’ 70th anniversary of diplomatic relationship this year,” Harmensyah, BNPB secretary said.

China has been lending its hand to Indonesia since the pandemic hits in March. Until now, Indonesia has received 50 units of portable ventilators, 150,008 PCR test kits, 80,000 medical masks, 1.4 million surgical masks, and 80,000 personal protective equipment.

In total, China has contributed a whopping Rp 7.8 billion ($557,142) of health aides. 

The BNPB will distribute the equipment in hospitals and health facilities nationwide.