Xi Jinping offers China’s help to address Indian Covid-19 crisis
- Chinese president tells Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi he is willing to strengthen cooperation and provide support and assistance
- India reports almost 390,000 new cases and 3,500 deaths on Friday, and has appealed for aid such as oxygen concentrators
Xi said he was very concerned about the second wave of Covid-19 in India, where the official infection total has soared past 18 million.
“On behalf of the Chinese government and the Chinese people, and in my own capacity, I would like to express my sincere condolences to the Indian government and people,” Xi said in the message, according to state media.
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International community races to help India tackle worsening Covid-19 outbreak
“China is willing to strengthen cooperation with India in the fight against the epidemic and provide support and assistance to India.”
In April, India reported more than 6.6 million cases as its total rose to 18.76 million, with more than 300,000 new infections every day in the past week. It is the second-worst-affected country in terms of total reported cases after the United States, according to the World Health Organization.
India is asking for pandemic aid, such as oxygen concentrators, and Chinese diplomats have said private companies would be encouraged to provide such assistance.