A team of 163 medical workers of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) of China arrived in Monrovia, the capital city of Liberia on November 15, less than one month away from President Xi Jinping's announcement of China's new round of assistance to West African countries in their fight against the Ebola epidemic on October 24.
The PLA contingent is made up of medical workers highly experienced in the prevention and treatment of infectious diseases who have participated in several major tasks such as combating the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS). The medical team will work in the Ebola treatment center built by China for Liberia which will be put into use on November 25. They will do all that they can to treat patients diagnosed with Ebola, train medical workers in Liberia and impart China' experience in preventing and controlling epidemics. The treatment center is built, staffed and operated all by China. No other country has done the same so far in the international assistance to West Africa to fight against the Ebola epidemic.
When welcoming the medical team, Liberian Foreign Minister Augustine Kpehe Ngafuan said that the Liberian government and people are grateful for China's assistance which is timely and efficient. China has been standing firmly with Liberia and providing vigorous support to Liberia since the outbreak of the epidemic. China is also committed to helping Liberia with its social economic recovery in the "post-Ebola era". China is a friend indeed for Liberia. There is genuine friendship between the two countries.
We believe that with the concerted efforts of China and Liberia, the latter is sure to defeat the Ebola epidemic.
Q: According to the reports by the Indian media, intelligence has shown that Chinese troops are training Pakistani border troops and helping them build bunkers at the line of actual control along the India-Pakistan border. What is China's response?
A: As far as what we have learnt, relevant reports are totally groundless.
After the press conference, a journalist asked: It is reported that the forces of Azerbaijan shot down a military helicopter of Armenia on November 12, killing three people on board. What is China's comment on that?
Hong Lei: China has noted what has happened. We hope that all parties concerned can keep calm and exercise restraint so as to avoid escalating the situation, and properly resolve the issue through consultation and dialogue. We also hope that relevant mechanisms such as the Minsk Group of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) will play a constructive role to that end.
