Jiefang Trucks Loaded with Mongolia-donated Sheep Arrive in China

Date:2020-10-23 Source:Xinhua

Over a dozen FAW Jiefang trucks loaded with 4,000 sheep from Mongolia arrived in the China-Mongolia border city of Erenhot, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, on Thursday.

This was the first batch of 30,000 sheep donated by Mongolia in support of China's COVID-19 epidemic fight.

Mongolian President Khaltmaa Battulga in February visited China at the critical stage of China's COVID-19 epidemic prevention and control, and promised to offer 30,000 sheep as a token of support.

China has also actively provided medical supplies to Mongolia and shared prevention and treatment experience as well as information.

Dozens of Chinese customs inspectors dressed in white protective clothing on Thursday inspected sheep-carrying vehicles at the Erenhot checkpoint. Previously, the animals had undergone quarantine in Mongolia.

According to a bilateral agreement, the sheep are transported to Erenhot in batches, where they are slaughtered and processed before being sent to central China's Hubei Province, the former frontier of China's epidemic fight.

Baatarkhuu Khorloo, chairman of the Mongolian Association for Chinese History and Culture, said sheep are the best gifts in Mongolia.

"In the folk customs of Mongolia, sheep represent friendship and peace. When its neighbor was hit by the coronavirus, Mongolia sent a generous gift of 30,000 sheep to express support," he said.