BEIJING — China has boosted its international air freight capacity to ensure the smooth operation of global medical supply chains amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

By March 26, China has carried out 23 international transport tasks of medical supplies with an accumulated transport amount of 406 metric tons, Zhang Qing, an official with the Civil Aviation Administration of China, told a news conference on March 29.

Noting the insufficient international air freight capacity and impeded shipment channels due to the outbreak, China will continue to add more charter flights and open new air routes to guarantee the smooth transport of living necessities and medical supplies, said Jin Jinghua, a senior official with the State Post Bureau.

At present, domestic-and-foreign-owned international cargo flights in China total 930 per week, which is close to the level recorded before the outbreak, Zhang noted.