Ecuadorian military honors Chinese doctors for one-year service

The Joint Command of the Armed Forces of Ecuador presented on Tuesday its military awards to a group of Chinese doctors to honor their one-year service in Quito.

In a ceremony held at the Military Geographical Institute, General Carlos Montalvo, Director of Health of the Joint Command, conferred "Star of the Armed Forces" medals on four Chinese military doctors who started their mission last year at the No.1 Armed Forces Specialist Hospital of Ecuador.

China has been sending military medical teams to South America since more than ten years ago. The 8th Chinese military medical team of four members arrived in Quito in May 2014, as part of the International Medical Cooperation Agreement between the Ministries of Defense of China and Ecuador.

At the news of the arrival of Chinese doctors, thousands of patients including senior political and military leaders, soldiers and civilians poured in the hospital for treatment. The Chinese doctors have also been to seven grassroots barracks in different parts of the country treating local officers and soldiers.

"The honor is not a personal achievement, but also to all of the soldiers of the Armed Forces of China who perform military assistance tasks abroad," said Cheng Yubin, head of the medical team.

He noted that the agreement reflects the friendly exchange and cooperation between the two armed forces and two countries.

Meanwhile, Senior Cononel Roberto Navarrete, Vice-President of the No.1 Armed Forces Specialist Hospital, hailed the solidarity between the two countries, saying the Chinese doctors have developed "one of the noblest tasks, that is, to provide scientific knowledge to help others heal their diseases and relieve their pain."

Over the past year, the Chinese doctors have treated some 10, 000 patients by applying not only traditional acupuncture, moxibustion and massage, but also new therapies of silver needle and floating acupuncture.

"Thank you for the professionalism and selfless dedication for the good of the Ecuadorians," said Navarrete to congratulate the group of Chinese for their voluntary work performed in military units of the Ecuadorian cities of Cuenca, Loja, Portoviejo and Galapagos archipelago, some 1,000 kilometers from the Ecuadorian mainland. Endite