VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

The Chinese Consul General in Denpasar, Zhu Xinglong, said he was ready to bridge the country's cooperation with Bali, West Nusa Tenggara, and East Nusa Tenggara to fight COVID-19 and also encourage economic recovery through cooperation in tourism and other fields.

"Since the COVID-19 pandemic broke out, the people of China and Indonesia have been cooperating to help each other and the friendship between the two countries has also grown closer. President Xi Jinping has made three phone calls with President Joko Widodo regarding cooperation on pandemic control and economic recovery," he said in Denpasar, on Wednesday.

In a special interview about the 71 years of the establishment of the PRC and 70 years of diplomatic relations with Indonesia, he said that the government, companies, and all levels of society of the two countries are also engaged in providing medical equipment assistance and sharing experiences of pandemic prevention and control.

"The total value of aid from China has exceeded $10 million. China and Indonesia have also established a 'fast track' to start cooperation in vaccine development and purchase as we enter the new normal for prevention and control," he said. China prioritizes Indonesia on international vaccine cooperation and hopes that phase 3 clinical trials in Indonesia will run smoothly and achieve expected results.

"We also do not forget. In the early period of the pandemic, the Balinese people prayed for China and supported China in fighting this pandemic. The provincial government of Bali provided extraordinary policies and convenience for Hubei tourists. who chartered flights back to China and Chinese citizens who are still left behind and want to extend their visas. We sincerely thank you," he said.

"We can feel the conditions faced by Bali, therefore the Chinese Consulate General in Denpasar and Chinese companies in Bali and the Provincial Government of Hainan, Guangdong Province have contributed medical equipment and necessities to the Balinese people," he said.

The Consul General emphasized that COVID-19 knows no national borders. The world is now a community with the same fate. The international community can only deal with this pandemic through solidarity and cooperation.

"China will continue to strengthen cooperation in terms of pandemic prevention and control with countries, including Indonesia, working together to win the war against this pandemic," he said. (Antaranews)