SHENZHEN — The southern Chinese city of Shenzhen will donate 270,000 disposable masks to eight of its sister cities around the world, with thousands of masks on the way to the Republic of Korea on March 18. 

The medical supplies, jointly donated by organizations including Shenzhen Foundation for International Exchange and Cooperation and Shenzhen Social Organization Federation, will be sent to virus-battered cities such as Milan, Turin, Busan and Bern.

The second batch of masks has been delivered to logistics firms and is expected to leave for Italy in a day or two.

Many sister cities of Shenzhen had donated medical supplies through various channels to support Shenzhen's anti-epidemic work.

Social organizations in Shenzhen had previously donated nucleic acid testing kits and other materials to Japan and Serbia through the Chinese embassies in the two countries.