KATHMANDU, May 11: A wide-body aircraft of Nepal Airlines has arrived in Kathmandu with health equipment donated by China.
According to the General Manager of NAC Dim Prakash Poudel, the aircraft brought 26 tons worth of health equipment from China. These include 400 of the total 20,000 oxygen cylinders donated by China, 160 oxygen concentrators, and 10 ventilators.
NAC General Manager Dim Prakash Paudel said NAC aircraft will be kept in standby position to bring remaining health equipment donated by China once they are ready to be delivered to Nepal. Among other things, China has agreed to provide 20,000 oxygen gas cylinders to Nepal under the grant.
Wide-body plane flying to Beijing to bring oxygen cylinders
The aircraft had flown to Beijing at 11:30 pm Monday. The aircraft landed in Kathmandu on Tuesday afternoon.
On April 27, China had announced to provide Nepal with an additional grant of medical equipment and materials equivalent to RMB 5 million (approximately Rs 92 million) to fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.
Addressing a video conference of Foreign Ministers of Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka, Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Affairs Minister Wang Yi had made the announcement to complement Nepal’s national efforts to fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.
Officials at the MoFA said China’s assistance of 20,000 oxygen cylinders to Nepal is part of the announcement made by the Chinese Foreign Minister Wang last week. Officials said China has agreed to provide an additional grant of medical equipment and materials as requested by Nepal to fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.
