Chinese Government donates NZD 185,778 worth of personal medical protective equipment to Cook Islands to combat Covid-19

On July 15, 2020, the Chinese Ambassador to New Zealand, the Cook Islands, and Niue, Wu Xi, and Cook Islands High Commissioner to New Zealand, Elizabeth-Wright Kotekka, signed a handover certificate for personal medical protective equipment worth NZD 185,778 worth from China to the Cook Islands. The signing ceremony was held at the Cook Islands High Commission in Wellington, New Zealand. The certificate was officially titled the “Handover of the Anti-epidemic Medical Assistance Project of the Government of the People's Republic of China and the Government of the Cook Islands in Wellington Certificate.” The protective equipment was granted by China with the intention of assisting the Cook Islands with medical preparedness in the event that Covid-19 spread to the Cook Islands. The equipment was originally donated in March 2020, but not handed over until July 2020. According to the Cook Islands News, the donation included coronavirus testing kits, surgical gowns and isolation coveralls, ventilators, respirators, surgical masks, disposable face masks, and non-contact infrared thermometers. According to Commissioner Kotekka, this provision of equipment eases concerns in the Cook Islands regarding Covid-19 and assures the Cook Island government of the support and assistance China provides throughout the pandemic.

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