China provides Venezuela with much-needed medicine against Zika

China supplied Venezuela with 96 tons of much-needed medicine against Zika over the weekend as part of a comprehensive bilateral cooperation agreement between the two countries.

The shipment arrived Saturday at the Simon Bolivar International Airport, and Venezuelan Health Minister Luisana Melo was on hand to receive the aid, which included 186,000 units of intravenous fluids and 11,500 units of the antibody immunoglobulin G (IgG).

The medicine comes at a time when Venezuela, as much of the rest of South America, is battling the mosquito-borne Zika virus and the afflictions it causes, including the Guillain-Barre Syndrome.

IgG "is indispensable for treating Zika and Guillain-Barre, among other diseases," said Melo.

Melo, who was accompanied by China's Ambassador to Venezuela, Zhao Bentang, said the medicine would de distributed nationwide through the country's network of hospitals.

Venezuela's comprehensive bilateral cooperation agreement with China is "so diverse that it ranges from raw materials to the acquisition of medicine," noted Melo.

Zhao underscored the "ties between the two countries, which are striving to step up cooperation in all aspects."

"The Chinese government and people maintain a strong friendship with the Venezuelan people and will always stand by their side to overcome any difficulties," said Zhao.

The two countries' Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, established in 2014, aims to promote joint development for the benefit of both nations. Endi