The Ebola vaccine that was developed by Chinese military scientists is made to withstand conditions in West African countries, where the virus has done the most damage. (Photo : REUTERS)
China pledges another $6-million donation to the United Nations Ebola Response Multi-Partner Trust Fund (UNMPTF) in order to reinforce support for Ebola-stricken countries in West Africa.
Earlier this year, China sent teams of experts, medical supplies as well as money to the worst-hit countries in West Africa, summing the country's donations to a total of 750 million yuan ($123 million).
As of recent reports, the widespread disease has already affected 1.3 million people worldwide, especially in West Africa.
China's donations in the past were used to aid 13 West African countries as well as international institutions that joined forces to find a cure and impede the feared disease from spreading any further.
The United Nations lauded the country's continuing support for the fight against Ebola as it was made in perfect timing to respond to the unprecedented scale of the outbreak.
In a statement, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon expressed his heartfelt gratitude for the support lent by the international community to aid the Ebola-stricken countries, especially in the impoverished parts of West Africa.
"China has been a leader in providing financial and in-kind commitments to the global Ebola response," he stated.
The agreement was signed by MOFCOM Assistant Minister Zhang Xiangchen and UN Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative Alain Noudehou, who represented the Multi-Partner Trust Fund.
In a statement, Zhang noted how the Chinese government and the United Nations have continuously "launched a wealth of effective collaborative initiatives" and expressed his hopes that both parties "will deepen this relationship and continually enrich this notion of cooperation."
