Sasebo, Japan donates 2,000 face masks to Xiamen, East China's Fujian province, to help the city fight the novel coronavirus pneumonia outbreak. [Photo/ fao.xm.gov.cn]
The 2,000 face masks donated by Sasebo, Japan to Xiamen, East China's Fujian province, to help the city fight the novel coronavirus, have now arrived at their destination, according to local media reports on March 2.
Since the beginning of the COVID-19 outbreak, Sasebo city has showed a high level of concern over the epidemic, rushing to offer donations to the city. Many Japanese enterprises also donated epidemic prevention materials to China.
The Sasebo mayor sent a consolation letter to Xiamen, expressing his support for the Xiamen people amid the outbreak and saying he was impressed by the Chinese government's efforts to prevent and control the virus. He said he will stand with Xiamen in its fight against the virus.
"A friend in need is a friend indeed," said Li Xiaoping, director of the Foreign Affairs Office of the Xiamen Municipal Government, referring to the help Xiamen had received from Sasebo during its fight against the virus. He added that Xiamen will somehow manage to pull through and expressed confidence in the city's ability to safeguard the health and safety of its people amid the outbreak.
The coastal Japanese city of Sasebo established a sister-city relationship with Xiamen in October 1983. The two cities have since carried out frequent economic, cultural, educational, artistic, sports-related, and tourism-related exchange events.
China announced and implemented on May 15 a policy allowing visa-free entry of foreign tourist groups aboard cruise ships via all cruise ship ports along the country's coastline.
China and Georgia are set to waive visa requirements for travelers starting May 28.
