Remarks by H.E. Mr. Chao Xiaoliang Ambassador of China to Samoa at the Signing Ceremony of the Protocol on Dispatching Chinese Medical Team to work in Samoa (2020-2022)
(11:00, 8th March 2021)
Honorable Afioga Faimalotoa Kika Stowers, Minister of Health,
Respectable Dr. Take Naseri,
Distinguished guests,
Ladies and gentlemen,
Talofa!
It is with great pleasure that I come to attend the Signing Ceremony of the Protocol on Dispatching Chinese Medical Team to work in Samoa (2020-2022). Today is a meaningful day, the International Women’s Day. First of all, on behalf of the Chinese Embassy, I would like to extend festive greetings and best wishes to female colleagues and friends, especially those female medical workers that have fought day and night against the COVID-19 pandemic. I would also like to express my sincere gratitude to the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, as well as those who have made continuous contribution to the medical cooperation between China and Samoa.
The Protocol is a continuation and renewal of the 2018-2020 edition. Since middle 2018, 24 Chinese volunteer doctors from top hospitals have been sent by the Chinese Government to Samoa in 4 batches. They worked selflessly, carried out more than 10,000 outpatient services and over 600 surgeries, processed over 2,500 pathology reports, conducted 22 free clinic services for local communities, fought shoulder to shoulder with Samoan colleagues to combat the measles outbreak and the COVID-19 pandemic, fully demonstrating the Chinese Medical Team spirit summarized by President Xi Jinping, “fearless of hardship, willing to sacrifice, dedicated to saving lives, and manifesting great love without borders.
With the current Protocol, the Chinese government will send medical teams covering more specialized departments in Samoa’s urgent need. In the following 2 years, 4 new batches of Chinese Medical Teams from top hospitals in China will be dispatched here and work at the TTM Hospital. Each batch will comprise 8 medical professionals, providing professional medical services in the Department of Cardiology, Neurology, ENT, Pathology, Urology, and ICU etc. Besides medical services, the Chinese Medical Team will provide clinical training, lectures and seminars for local medical staff so as to enhance the capacity of relevant departments, and render a certain amount of medicine, equipment, and relevant materials to Samoa Ministry of Health.
Ladies and gentlemen,
The Sino-Samoa medical cooperation has a long history and has achieved fruitful results over the years. Since 1980s, Chinese government has started sending medical teams to Samoa to provide medical services. Up to now, 125 medical professionals of 18 Medical Teams have worked in Samoan hospitals. In addition to that, Chinese government also sent short-term medical teams to Samoa. For example, in recent years, the eye doctors from Guangdong Province traveled to Samoa to perform cataract surgeries for local patients free of charge, a total number of 352 patients have regained sights thanks to that. Moreover, China also provided aid in building TTM hospital and dozens of Samoan doctors and nurses were invited to attend medical training programs held in China.
Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, China has extended all-round support to Samoa including information sharing, experience exchange, financial support as well as medical supplies donation. Altogether $1.53 million Tala worth PPEs and medical equipment aid were handed over. China has also established the China-Pacific island Countries Anti-Epidemic Cooperation Fund, through which USD$250,000 was provided to Samoa. Even though China also encounters shortage of vaccines, we will contribute 10 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines under the COVID-19 Vaccine Global Access (COVAX) Facility, increasing the accessibility and affordability of vaccines in developing countries. In the meantime, China has also given vaccine assistance to 69 developing countries, has exported or are exporting vaccine doses to 43 countries that certified Chinese vaccines, and authorized their emergency use.
Ladies and gentlemen,
The global public health crisis we are currently faced with has once again demonstrated the urgency and significance of building a community with a shared future for mankind. Just as the Samoan saying “E so’o le fau i le fau” states, only with solidarity and cooperation can we safeguard our common home. Hope the signing of the Protocol could add more lusters to the China-Samoa comprehensive strategic partnership featuring mutual respect and common development and deliver more tangible benefits to Samoan people.
Thank you!
