China's all-out efforts in helping Africa contain Ebola outbreak

The Chinese government has been doing its best to help African countries affected by the Ebola epidemic since its outbreak in April.

The record-breaking assistance has demonstrated China's sincerity and selflessness in helping Africa, and its courage and willingness to shoulder responsibilities of a major country.

The following is a chronology of China's serried actions and pledges in contributing to the global anti-Ebola efforts in 2014:

In May, China sent the first batch of relief goods, mostly for disease prevention, control and treatment, to Guinea, Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea-Bissau, valued at 1 million yuan (161,000 US dollars) for each country.

On Aug. 7, the Ministry of Commerce announced China would provide the second batch relief worth of 30 million yuan (4.9 million dollars), mainly including personal protective equipment, patient monitors, sprays and medicines, to Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea, the hardest-hit countries by the Ebola epidemic. The relief has been in place.

On Aug. 9, the National Health and Family Planning Commission (NHFPC) said China would send three disease control expert teams to Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone to provide technical assistance to local health authorities in prevention and control of the Ebola virus, the first time that China offers assistance to foreign countries in response to a public health emergency. The teams have been working to a full gear ever since.

On Aug. 11, Chinese President Xi Jinping sent messages to presidents of Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia respectively to show sympathy to the three countries over the deaths in the Ebola outbreak, saying China is willing to support them in containing the spread of the disease.

On Aug. 16, President Xi pledged in a meeting with UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon that China would continue to help the international effort in controlling the epidemic.

On Sept. 10, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang said China is prepared to "fight side by side" with West African countries to combat Ebola.

On Sept. 12, the Ministry of Commerce announced another 200 million yuan (32.54 million dollars) package of humanitarian aid to African countries and international organizations to help control the disease.

On Sept. 16, Chinese Ambassador to Sierra Leone Zhao Yanbo said the Chinese government had dispatched another medical team of 59 experts and a mobile laboratory to the African country.

On Sept. 18, President Xi announced a new aid package of 200 million yuan for Liberia, Sierra Leon and Guinea.