DAKAR, May 19 (Xinhua) -- Senegalese journalist Aly Diouf, an expert on China, hailed China's support to Senegal in the fight against COVID-19.
In addition to the Chinese government which has contributed to Senegal's fight against COVID-19, Chinese companies and individuals have also made donations, he said during a recent interview with Xinhua.
The cumulative contribution of Chinese companies and individuals based in Senegal is worth about 170 million CFA francs (about 280,000 U.S. dollars), which adds to the funds set up by Senegalese authorities to fight against the novel coronavirus, the Senegalese expert said.
Diouf, head of the political and international service for the national daily newspaper Le Soleil, stressed that "China has done its best to support the efforts of African countries in this fight against the pandemic."
On April 22, the Chinese government offered Senegal a donation, which included 4,750 protective suits, 4,750 protective glasses, 4,500 N95 masks, and 10,000 surgical masks.
Diouf, who is also correspondent for Senegalese magazine Chine-Afrique (China-Africa), said that since the pandemic reached Africa, China has continued to support the efforts of African countries to contain the spread of the virus by donating materials and sending medical teams.
Diouf's opinions are echoed by another journalist and expert, Mbagnick Diouf. For the vice-president of the African media network against AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, China has just, through its support for Africa in the fight against COVID-19, reaffirmed the sincerity of the relations with the continent.
"It is in difficulties that we recognize our true friends. China has just confirmed this by giving a good example of providing support to Africa at a time when many countries on the continent are facing the COVID-19 pandemic," he said in an interview with Xinhua. Enditem
