Urumqi, March 28,(All media reporter Yuan Lei): At the invitation of the Pakistani government, the anti-epidemic medical expert team despatched by Chinese government sets off on March 28 from Urumqi for Pakistan to assist in the epidemic prevention and control. The expert team was established by the National Health Commission with members selected and designated by the People’s Government of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. Li Pengxin, Deputy Secretary of the CPC Xinjiang Committee, presided over the send-off ceremony for the expert team.

The expert team consists of 8 experts, respectively from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention of XUAR, the People's Hospital of XUAR, the First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University, and the Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital of XUAR, with areas of expertise covering respirology, critical care, nursing, testing, and traditional Chinese medicine, etc.. The main task of the expert team is to share experiences and exchange with local hospitals and experts in Pakistan, introducing China's anti-epidemic experience, providing consultations on the epidemic prevention and control, patient treatment and laboratory work while taking in consideration Pakistan’s epidemic prevention measures as well as diagnosis and treatment procedures, providing training and guidance to medical staff and community prevention and control personnel of Pakistan.

The expert team carries along with them medical supplies donated by Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, including 10,000 medical N95 masks, 100,000 disposable medical masks, 5000 medical protective gowns, 12 ventilators, 5 defibrillator monitors, 10,000 nucleic acid testing kits and medicines. On March 27, the first batch of anti-epidemic medical supplies donated by XUAR to Pakistan has already been cleared via Khunjerab Pass, a land port in southern Xinjiang's Kashgar prefecture bordering Pakistan.

Li Pengxin said at the send-off ceremony that major infectious diseases are the enemy of all mankind. China and Pakistan are all-weather strategic partners. At the critical time when China fought against the COVID-19 outbreak, Pakistan gave us support and help in various ways. Now that there is an outbreak of epidemic in Pakistan, we should actively lend our support. He hopes that experts will carry forward exemplary working style, keep in mind their mission and responsibilities, give full play to their technological advantages, and fight alongside Pakistani medical and health staff to jointly tackle severe challenges, successfully accomplish their missions and fulfill their tasks, further enhancing the friendship between Chinese and Pakistani people. The people of all ethnic groups in Xinjiang look forward to the expert team’s triumphant return safe and sound.

The leaders of XUAR Tian Wen and Manlik Siyit attended the send-off ceremony.