YANGON — China's CITIC Group on May 19 donated protective equipment to be used in fight against COVID-19 in Kyaukpyu town of Myanmar's Rakhine state.

"The donation represents the social responsibility of Chinese companies in Myanmar while portraying Paukphaw (fraternal) friendship between China and Myanmar," said Tan Shufu, economic and commercial counselor of the Chinese Embassy in Myanmar, expressing his hopes for rapidly overcoming the pandemic through cooperation.

Such donation means not only a medical assistance but also a mental encouragement to local Rakhine ethnic people, Yangon Region Minister for Rakhine Ethnics Affairs U Zaw Aye Maung said at the event.

Aiming to support anti-pandemic measures in Kyaukpyu town, the CITIC Group provided 25,600 medical masks, 350 personal protective equipment (PPE) and 650 face shields.

The local facility quarantine centers are in need of such medical supplies and this donation would be a great help for COVID-19 fight, said U Aye San, a member of donation committee of Kyaukpyu.

The medical supplies are the second batch of the CITIC Group's donation after the group provided 30 tons of rice and 10 disinfectant sprayers to help local people fight against COVID-19 in Kyaukpyu earlier this month.