China Development Research Foundation and Partners to Assist Italy in Its Fight against COVID-19

At present, as the COVID-19 pandemic spreads rapidly across Europe, Italy has become heavily affected by the virus.

At this critical juncture, China and Italy join hands and work together to combat the pandemic. China Development Research Foundation (CDRF), together with East-West Philanthropy Forum and China Global Philanthropy Institute, co-launched a project to provide our full support to Italy’s battle against COVID-19.

On March 20, CDRF held a donation ceremony. Mr. Luca Ferrari, Italian ambassador to China, and Mr. Lu Mai, Vice Chairman of CDRF, attended the event and delivered speech. Mr. Fang Jin, Secretary General of CDRF, and Mr. Cheng Huiqiang, Deputy Secretary-General of CDRF, presided over the event.

Tencent Foundation, the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China, Shandong Weiqiao Pioneering Group, Lao Niu Foundation, GAC Group and other companies and institutions have donated about 590,000 pieces of supplies including protective suits, masks and gloves along with 2.2 million yuan to help aid Italy’s coronavirus response.

The first batch of donations would be sent to the Piemonte and Lombardia regions in Italy this weekend through charter flight. Local governments in Italy will help allocating those supplies to the medical workers at the forefront of COVID-19 fight.