On December 2, Ambassador Ma Keqing witnessed the turnover of 3 payloaders donated by the Chinese Enterprises Philippine Association(CEPA) to the
Philippine Red Cross(PRC) at its National Headquarters. Economic and Commercial Counsellor Wu Zhengping of the Chinese Embassy and representatives
of the Chinese Companies also attended the turn-over ceremony.
Ambassador Ma made a brief account of China's relief effort to Yolanda-hit areas. She emphasized that China responded promptly in the aftermath of the
Super-typhoon, and increased its aid to the Philippines with the development of the situation. Chinese President Xi Jinping and Foreign Minister Wang Yi
extended messages of condolences respectively to Philippine President Aquino and Foreign Secretary Del Rosario. The Chinese government and the Chinese
Red Cross Society delivered $200,000 emergency remittance assistance to their counterparts. China also provides more than 110 million Pesos worth of aid,
including tents, blankets and medicines to the Typhoon devastated communities. There are two Chinese medical teams working in Tacloban and Abuyog, while
the Peace Ark Hospital ship moored in Leyte Gulf also joined the medical relief. About 200 Chinese doctors and nurses from the three medical teams, now
working in the Philippines, have treated more than 5,000 patients in total so far.
"This typhoon provided an opportunity for the Chinese people to help the Philippine people, and to show the traditional friendship between the two countries,
" Ambassador Ma said, "This strong bond will prosper despite all the differences we have."
The Philippine Red Cross, while expressing its appreciation to the donation of payloaders by CEPA, said that the three payloader trucks will prove to be very
useful in PRC's daily Clearing Operations, as it continued with the relief efforts. "We thank the Chinese people for their generosity of providing much needed
support to the PRC", PRC Chairman Richard Gordon says, "With these trucks, the Chinese people helps the typhoon victims acquire work and give them the
means to provide for their families and help the community."