By staff reporter JUAN CARLOS AGUILAR

SINCE April 8， 16 aircraft have arrived at Mex- ico City International Airport from Shanghai carrying personal protective equipment to fight the coronavirus pandemic. As of now， more than 170 tons of medical materials have landed and been distributed among the medical personnel of public hospitals across the country.

The unprecedented operation was dubbed the“China-Mexico Air Corridor，” allowing the Latin American nation to stock up on much needed medical supplies to cope with the current pandemic. On average， there have been two flights per week， each carrying approximately 10 tons of materials. The plan will use 20 aircraft to transport 200 tons of medical supplies， including KN95 and surgical masks， protective goggles， COVID-19 test kits， and ventilators， among others.

This feat has not only involved streamlining diplomatic channels， but also entailed solving technical issues to allow 20 aircraft， all from Aeroméxico， to safely cross the Pacific Ocean 40 times in just 10 weeks， completing more than 600 flight hours.

According to Ricardo Cárdenas Orozco， executive coordinator of Sanitary Supervision and Surveillance of the Federal Commission for Protection against Sanitary Risks， the supplies meet the highest quality standard and comply with all the necessary commercial regulations.

Solidarity Among People

This complex operation was motivated by the profound friendship that unites both countries ever since diplomatic relations were established on February 14， 1972， during Luis Echeverrías government（1970-1976）. Forty-eight years have gone by since then， and now， in the midst of the current pandemic emergency， the bond has been further reaffirmed through these friendly deeds.

Marcelo Ebrard， Mexicos secretary of foreign affairs， spoke highly of the bilateral relationship. “We have built this air corridor because we have a very good relationship with China，” he said. The proof of it， he added， is the unconditional support between both countries during these times of crisis and uncertain-ties in the world. “Mexico helped China when the pandemic started， and now when we need support， you （China） have also been there [to help]， because relations between peoples do matter，” Ebrard told the media on May 12 when the 10th flight landed at the Mexican capital.

This 10th flight – which brought the first 48 ventilators – marks the second stage of this international cooperation effort. “We are in agreement about the need for a global， multilateral response to this pandemic. China was one of the first countries that supported us in the recent UN resolution to guarantee universal access to medicine， equipment， and a potential vaccine，” said Ebrard.

Villegas said in times of crisis true friends extend a hand to help. “In this case， China has shown us once again that we can count on it， and that friendship transcends borders， distances， and languages. We， in turn， want to reciprocate that help and let China know that we are always willing to extend a helping hand.”

He also noted that， in addition to the help from the Chinese government， private individuals from the Chinese community in Mexico have also reached out. “They have donated face masks to the Chamber of Deputies， and we cannot thank them enough for all their help，” said Villegas. He then added that once the pandemic is over， his group would resume the work to further strengthen and facilitate the mutually beneficial economic exchanges and trade.

One of the Mexico-China Friendship Group of the Chamber of Deputies objectives is to bolster diplomatic， technological， and cultural exchanges， and to work in legislative initiatives that foster foreign trade as well as scientific， technological， cultural， and tourist exchanges.

In this regard， Ambassador Zhu indicated Chinas willingness to cooperate with Mexico in its economic recovery. “We are partners， and cooperation will help overcome the economic crisis and make new breakthroughs. We believe that after the pandemic， Chinas relations with Mexico should take on an even more important role and China is ready to boost cooperation，” said Zhu in an article published by the Notimex agency.

Mexico is awaiting the arrival of four more aircrafts to complete the 20 flights of this air corridor built with hope and affection.

The pandemic has presented us with difficult times， but it has also shown Chinas supportiveness and fraternity to Mexico. After all， as an old Mexican saying goes — true friends really get to know each other in times of sickness.