Chongqing - As of 10:00 AM local time on February 2, part of medical supplies that Chongqing has purchased from overseas had arrived, including 5.15 million face masks (3.8 million from donation), 420,000 pairs of gloves, 160,000 protective suits (5,000 from donations), 2,000 goggles, 4,511 thermometers, according to the Chongqing Municipal Commission of Commerce on February 3. An additional 680,000 masks will be delivered to Chongqing in the next few days. Moreover, a Shanghai-based company leases two production lines of Korean medical disinfectant, plans to start operation recently, and produces exclusively for Chongqing Municipality in Southwest China.

Moreover, 40,000 masks donated by the Chongqing Cultural Tourism Minsk Promotion Center have been transported from Minsk on January 31. They are expected to arrive in Chongqing soon, according to the Chongqing Municipal Commission of Culture and Tourism Development. Other promotion centers in Sydney and Madrid make unremitting efforts to coordinate many parties for more purchasing channels for medical supplies. Minsk and Chongqing, as sister cities, have fruitful cooperation results.

A collaborative working mechanism by multi-departmental efforts

To further ensure medical supplies for the prevention and control of novel coronavirus, the Chongqing Municipal Commission of Commerce has tried every means to expand market channels and fully mobilize resources of enterprises, society, and other parties. The commission has connected with foreign embassies in China, overseas financial branches, overseas business associations, and large trade dealers. These supplies come from Germany, the United Kingdom, the United States, Japan, South Korea, Australia, Thailand, Russia, Myanmar, and Brazil.

Meanwhile, a collaborative working mechanism for resource sharing, information exchange, and shared responsibility has been established, with a concerted efforts of the Chongqing Municipal Commission of Commerce, the Chongqing Economy and Informatization Commission, the Chongqing State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission, the Port and Logistics Office Chongqing Municipal People's Government, the Chongqing Municipal Drug Administration, and Chongqing Customs and other departments

It focuses on medical supplies, medical equipment, emergency medicines, and other essential materials. Moreover, these departments strengthen corporate guidance and docking, simplify work processes, open green channels for financial and customs clearance, to ensure the smooth and fast arrivals of overseas medical supplies.

All departments in Chongqing take actions and do their best to ensure service. The Municipal Commission of Commerce has further strengthened connection with enterprises to know and analyze difficulties that may occur in the process of import, and promptly informed of and sought solutions to relevant departments. Chongqing Customs has opened green channels for the medical supplies for epidemic prevention and control and implemented 7/24 customs clearance. Chongqing Operations Office of the People's Bank of China has established a group, which consists of Chongqing-based banks involving international businesses to support epidemic prevention and control, to implement green channels for foreign exchange, and accelerate the settlement for relevant medical materials. Chongqing Municipal Drug Administration has simplified the import process in compliance with national standards for companies without imported medical equipment qualifications. Departments including the Chongqing Traffic Bureau, the Port and Logistics Office issue passes for transporting emergency materials, personnel, and vehicles so that chartered planes loaded with medical supplies can be delivered to the needy receivers promptly.

With the coordination of various departments and enterprises in Chongqing, the Chongqing Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation Group, Sinopharm Group Chongqing Medical Devices Company, and Chongqing China Base Import and Export have used four charter planes to transport a batch of medical supplies that are in short supply from overseas to Chongqing.