Team arrives in Iraq to aid fight against virus spread (2)

An expert team dispatched by the Red Cross Society of China arrives in Iraq, bringing with them virus testing kits, traditional Chinese medicines and other medical devices and equipment, to support the Middle Eastern country's fight against COVID-19, on March 7, 2020. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Iraq had reported 46 confirmed novel coronavirus cases by Saturday, including four deaths, with the outbreak happening in multiple places, according to the Red Cross Society of China.

During the early stage of the epidemic in China, the international community provided help in different forms through various channels, said Chen Zhu, president of the Red Cross Society of China.

With the epidemic in China having been brought gradually under control and confirmed case growth in other countries, the emergency humanitarian aid provided by the Red Cross Society of China indicates China's resolution for meeting the challenge jointly with the international community and the close friendship between China and related countries, Chen said.

Ai Hexu, an Arabic teacher at Guangdong University of Foreign Studies who works as a translator for the team, said he was honored to contribute to the global fight against the epidemic with his professional knowledge.

The help to Iraq indicates both China's shouldering the responsibility as a major country and its actual practice in seeking a common shared destiny of mankind, Ai said.