China to provide another 100 mln masks to ASEAN countries

Li made the remarks in Beijing while attending a special summit of ASEAN, China, Japan and the Republic of Korea (ASEAN Plus Three or APT) on COVID-19 via video link. He said China proposes leveraging the complementarity in medical supplies and industrial chains of APT countries to more effectively tackle emergencies.

China supports ASEAN in setting up a COVID-19 ASEAN response fund, and will provide necessary support through the ASEAN-China Cooperation Fund and APT Cooperation Fund, said Li, adding that China suggests an APT reserve of essential medical supplies be established to make responses faster and emergency supplies more readily available.

APT countries should support the WHO playing a leading role and work together to safeguard regional and global public health, Li said.