Partners for a more resilient world

In 2010, I saw for myself the speed and generosity of Chinese disaster response. I was in Haiti to ensure that substantial European humanitarian aid and in-kind assistance was being delivered after a devastating earthquake.

The Chinese emergency rescue team, made up of 60 members, was among the first to reach Haiti, despite the fact it came from furthest away and despite the absence of diplomatic relations between the two nations.

And the team did not come empty-handed. They immediately set up a medical assistance station and a Chinese plane brought 90 metric tons of materials, including tents, water, food, emergency lights, medicines, clothing and water purification equipment. The aid was the first batch of a 30 million yuan ($4.41 million) relief package, which was ready within 24 hours after the earthquake.