On May 7, a handover ceremony of COVID-19 relief supplies donated by CITIC Group of China to Kyauk Phyu District of Myanmar's Rakhine State was held in Yangon. Mr. Tan Shufu, Commercial Counselor of the Chinese Embassy in Myanmar, attended the ceremony.
At the ceremony, Mr. Sun Tiejun, CITIC Group's representative and Deputy MD of CITIC Myanmar, handed over 30 tons of high-quality rice and 10 disinfectant sprays valued USD 20,000 to U Aye San, the representative of Donations Receiving Committee (DRC) for COVID-19 Epidemic Prevention and Control of Kyauk Phyu District. The rest of medical masks and PPE sets will arrive in Myanmar soon, totaling the value of USD 80,000.
Early at the outbreak of the epidemic in Myanmar, CITIC Group has begun to contact the DRC, consisting of Township Development Committee members, Kyauk Phyu Elders' Association and local citizens about the donation. Taking the DRC's advices, to meet the actual needs and for the convenience of the local people, CITIC took care of almost everything including sourcing, purchasing and international transportation, etc. Thousands of elaborate leaflets with self-quarantine tips were also attached to raise local people's awareness.
Following the principles of Trying Utmost Efforts, Offering Timely Help, Targeting Actual Needs, and Assuring Best Quality, this donation was jointly implemented by CITIC Myanmar and CITIC Foundation for Reform and Development Studies, said Sun. "We hope it will help to ease the burden of Kyauk Phyu medical system and to improve the conditions of healthcare of Kyauk Phyu people", he added.
"We sincerely thank CITIC's kind acts and in-time response. For Kyauk Phyu people, it's more important to provide food for basic living to combat the epidemic. The rice donated by CITIC is quite in need", said U Aye San.
“The friendship between Myanmar and China dates back to thousands of years ago. The two peoples have gone through hardships hand in hand and have developed a close Pauk-phaw brotherhood. CITIC Group's donation is a concrete action to honor the call of leaders of both countries to build a Myanmar-China community with a shared future." Said Tan.
For years, CITIC Group and CITIC Consortium has spent more than USD 4 million on numerous CSR programs in Myanmar such as the Kyauk Phyu Village Fund Program, donation of flood relief supplies and helicopter rescue for Rakhine State, donation of Panda Packs and Polo-shirts in cooperation with China Foundation for Poverty Alleviation and Kyauk Phyu Youth Capacity Building Programs jointly with Yunnan Provice of China and NLD Education Network while implementing Kyauk Phyu SEZ projects. The donation this time shows again CITIC's willingness to contribute to Myanmar's economic and social development and determination of standing together through warm and cold with Myanmar people.