Chinese military medical personnel arrive in Laos, Myanmar to assist in COVID-19 fight

Members of the Chinese military medical expert team from People's Liberation Army (PLA) arrive at the Yangon International Airport in Yangon, Myanmar, April 24, 2020. (Xinhua/U Aung)

Medical personnel from the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) arrived in the Lao capital Vientiane and Myanmar's Yangon on Friday to assist the two countries in fighting against COVID-19.

The People's Liberation Army (PLA) of China COVID-19 epidemic prevention and control expert team was warmly greeted at the Wattay International Airport of Vientiane, by Lao Deputy Defense Minister Aesamay Leuangvanxay and other high-ranking army officers, as well as Chinese Ambassador to Laos Jiang Zaidong.

Lao People's Army staff carry anti-epidemic materials donated by the Chinese army from a Chinese military cargo plane on April 24, 2020, at Wattay International Airport of the Lao capital Vientiane. (Kaikeo Saiyasane/Xinhua)

The medical expert team also handed over anti-epidemic medical materials to the Lao side, which were carried by cargo planes of the PLA Air Force and donated by the Ministry of National Defense of China.

On the same day, Chinese Ambassador to Myanmar Chen Hai expressed his belief that the arrival of the Chinese military medics will assist in Myanmar's fight against COVID-19 and strengthen the bilateral friendship and cooperation between the two countries' militaries.

Boxes of Chinese medical supplies donated by Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) are seen at the Yangon International Airport in Yangon, Myanmar, April 24, 2020. (Xinhua/U Aung) 

Yangon Region Commander Maj-Gen Thet Pon told the media, "We do believe that we could fight the disease through collaborations with the Chinese medical personnel in the fields of diagnosis and treatment for COVID-19."

The Chinese military medics will join Myanmar's military medical personnel at the 1,000-bedded Defence Services General Hospital in Mingaladon township of Yangon, he said.

Along with the team, a batch of medical supplies donated by China including medical masks, N95 and KN95 masks and laboratory equipment also arrived in Yangon on Friday.