On 21 April, Ambassador Zhang Jun, Permanent Representative of the People’s Republic of China to the United Nations, and Ambassador Huang Ping, Consul General of the People’s Republic of China in New York, donated personal protective equipment (PPE), including 25,000 N95 masks, 2,000 protective suits and 75,000 surgical gloves, to New York City on behalf of the Permanent Mission and Consulate General of China. Ms. Penny Abeywardena, New York City's Commissioner for International Affairs, expressed her deep gratitude to the Chinese government for the timely assistance.

Ambassador Zhang emphasized at the virtual handover ceremony that we are in one world. The COVID-19 pandemic poses an extraordinary challenge to the whole world. According to the WHO, more than 150,000 people lost their lives. Deep condolences goes to the families who lost their loved ones. We live in a global village. We have a common future. In fighting the virus, the international community has no choice but to stay united and cooperate with each other.

Ambassador Zhang stressed that we are in one family. Both China and US are members of the UN family. the UN is the cornerstone of international cooperation and multilateralism, and plays a central role in international affairs. Both countries need to support the UN and the WHO in playing a leading and coordinating role to defeat COVID-19, the common enemy of mankind. We should stand firmly against politicization of the pandemic and overcome obstacles of cooperation.

Ambassador Zhang said that we are in one city. New York City is our common home. We share its joy. We share its pain. In fighting the virus, we are all New Yorkers. With the unity of all New Yorkers, we will defeat the pandemic and bring New York back to a dynamic and colorful life.