China donates US$6m to int'l Ebola response
- By Chen Boyuan
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E-mail China.org.cn, December 3, 2014
The Chinese government pledged to donate another US$ 6 million to the Ebola Response Multi-Partner Trust Fund on Tuesday, bolstering support for the international effort to curb the epidemic that has affected more than 1.3 million people in West Africa and beyond.
The agreement was signed into effect at China's Ministry of Commerce by Zhang Xiangchen, Assistant Minister of Commerce and Alain Noudehou, the United Nations Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative acting on behalf of the Multi-Partner Trust Fund.
The fund is designed to finance critical unfunded priorities in the fight to end Ebola transmission, both parties said.
China has so far contributed 750 million yuan (US$123 million) to 13 African countries and international organizations to combat Ebola, including US$6 million that went to the World Food Program and US$2 million to the WHO, according to the latest U.N. figures.
This new agreement, and China’s dispatch of more medical aid workers to affected countries signal that the country is stepping up its active engagement in tackling the global health challenge.
China's continuous contributions to the humanitarian undertaking have invited high praise from the United Nations. U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon acknowledged China's important role, saying that "China has been a leader in providing financial and in-kind commitments to the global Ebola response."
The U.N. chief said he welcomed "China's donation of a fully staffed 100-bed treatment centre in Liberia and its latest commitment of US$6 million to the U.N. Ebola Response Multi-Partner Trust Fund."
"Over a long period, China and relevant U.N. organizations, including the UNDP, have launched a wealth of effective collaborative initiatives," said Zhang Xiangchen, who hoped the donation would deepen China's cooperation with the United Nations.
At the signing ceremony, Noudehou expressed gratitude for the very generous contribution made by the Chinese government to fighting the Ebola outbreak and reiterated the commitment to continue strengthening the cooperation between China and U.N. organizations.
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