LIEGE, Belgium, March 16 (Xinhua) -- Three hundred thousand face masks donated by Chinese charities arrived in Liege, Belgium, on Monday, in an effort to help the European country fight the spread of the COVID-19.

A cargo plane carrying the medical supply landed midday at the Liege Airport, the biggest cargo airport in Belgium and a key logistics hub in the fight against the ongoing epidemic in Europe.

"L'Union fait la force", or "Unity Makes Strength" in English, wrote a poster attached to the package, apparently reminding the Belgians of the motto of their country.

The shipment was the first batch to be handed over to Sciensano, the public health institute of Belgium, said a press release by Alibaba Foundation and Jack Ma Foundation. The remaining will be delivered within next few days, it added.

The surgical masks will be distributed first among health care providers in Belgium, who are on the front line of the fight against the new coronavirus, said Belgian Minister of Public Health Maggie De Block in a statement.

The shipment was part of an ambitious donation of over two million masks and medical equipment announced by the two foundations to support Europe. The twin organizations have sent half a million masks to Italy, the hardest hit country in Europe.