Covid-19 Covid-19: Despite assurances of help, China suspends its cargo flights carrying critical medical supplies to India
Beijing/IBNS: China's state-run Sichuan Airlines has stopped all its cargo flights to India for the next 15 days, hurting the efforts of the private traders to source the oxygen concentrators and other medical supplies needed to treat the critical cases of COVID-19 even as China offered "support and assistance" to the country to battle the deadly-second wave of the infection, according to media reports.
The Sichuan Chuanhang Logistics Co. Ltd, a part of the Sichuan Airlines, informed the sales agents on Monday about the suspension in a letter, adding that the situation would be reviewed after 15 days, the reports added.
The ban has come as a major surprise for the agents and freight forwarders who are desperately trying to get the oxygen concentrators from China.
The Chinese manufacturers have also increased the prices by 35 to 40 per cent while the freight charges have been increased by 20 per cent, media reported.
The suspension of cargo flights has come as a surprise even to government officials as it came in the backdrop of an official statement by the Chinese government offering support and assistance to India to battle Covid-19.
"China expresses sincere sympathies to India over the deteriorating situation in the country recently," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman, Zhao Lijian had said on April 23.
"The Chinese government and people firmly support the Indian government and people in fighting the coronavirus. China is ready to provide support and help according to India's need, and is in communication with the Indian side on this," he said.
India on Monday continued to record over three lakh Covid-19 cases with 3,52,991 fresh infections and 2812 deaths, Health Ministry data showed.
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