Chinese NGO signs cooperation deals with Timor-Leste on dengue fever prevention, clean water project

GX Foundation, a Hong Kong-based Chinese medical humanitarian organization, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on dengue fever prevention and control and a letter of intent for cooperation on clean water project with the health ministry of Timor-Leste in Dili, capital of Timor-Leste, on Friday.

The signing of the agreements were witnessed by Leung Chun-ying, vice chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) and chairman of GX foundation, and Timor-Leste's Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao.

Under the agreements, the GX Foundation will intensify its partnership with Timor-Leste's health authorities to combat dengue fever and address the country's drinking water shortages.

Earlier this year, the foundation launched its first global pilot project in the southeast Asian country, donating a range of mosquito control products to the country's health ministry, including mosquito killer lamps, fly traps, mosquito nets and rapid test kits. The efforts, covering early diagnosis, prevention, protection and education, have significantly mitigated the risk of dengue outbreaks in the country.

Despite a global surge in dengue cases, the first half of this year saw Timor-Leste reporting a 10 percent decrease in confirmed cases compared to the same period of last year. Notably, dengue infections in May and June dropped by 76.5 percent.

"We have installed the mosquito killer lamps provided by the GX Foundation in all hospital departments, from emergency rooms to server rooms. We have noticed almost no mosquitoes in the hospital now. Moreover, we no longer have concerns about dengue fever," said Pereira, director of the infectious disease prevention and control department of the Guido Valadares National Hospital.

"The results of this pilot project are crucial for our future initiatives, as they help identify high-risk areas. We hope this project will serve as a model for other regions and developing countries affected by dengue fever," said Chan Yingyang, CEO of the GX Foundation.

In addition, to combat waterborne diseases caused by contaminated drinking water, the foundation will launch its first "Clean Water Project" in the country. The initiative includes the donation of 100 water purification machines to the institutions such as hospitals and schools. Qualified technicians will be mobilized to manage the installation.

Founded in Hong Kong in 2018, the GX Foundation is a non-governmental and non-profit medical humanitarian organization dedicated to providing international medical and public health humanitarian assistance in the Belt and Road countries.

Dengue fever is a mosquito-borne viral infection and mostly occurs in the rainy season from June to October in Southeast Asia. It usually causes severe flu-like symptoms, including high fever, headache, vomiting, muscle and joint pain, and a characteristic skin rash.

Chinese NGO signs cooperation deals with Timor-Leste on dengue fever prevention, clean water project

A delegation of 40 students and teachers from seven Chinese mainland universities arrived at Taiwan's Taoyuan International Airport on Wednesday, embarking on their nine-day visit to the island.

Invited by the Taiwan-based Ma Ying-jeou Culture and Education Foundation, the delegation is led by Qiu Yong, chairman of Tsinghua University Council.

The delegation includes table tennis Olympic champion Ma Long studying at Beijing Sport University, and air rifle Olympic champion Yang Qian studying at Tsinghua University.

"I came from Taipei today, and I arrived at Taoyuan Airport at 09:30 because I was worried that there would be too many people here. I brought the photos that my friends sent me today, and I'm very happy. I also wrote a letter to Ma Long because I was worried that I would be too excited if I really saw him in person. We welcome students from the mainland to come to Taiwan for exchanges, and wish them to enjoy delicious food and drink and have fun here," said Lai Chin-hsuan, a Taiwan resident.

This is the second delegation of mainland teachers and students visiting Taiwan at the invitation of the Ma Ying-jeou Foundation, following the first delegation in July last year.

The delegation visited a high school on Wednesday afternoon as scheduled.

Hsiao Hsu-tsen, executive director of the foundation, said exchanges and contacts between young people of the mainland and Taiwan region are very important to the development of cross-Strait relations.

"When I arrived earlier, the fans had already lining up at the airport a few hours in advance, so I really think this is a very exciting phenomenon. It means that no matter how depressed the cross-Strait relationship is, sports and youth exchanges will always be common topics and language between the two sides. College students and high school students on both sides of the Taiwan Strait need to know each other very much. I think it is very meaningful to have so many top mainland students visit our most outstanding high school in Taiwan today," said Hsiao.

Besides the high school, the delegation is scheduled to visit some universities, the Taipei 101 tower and the Taipei Palace Museum from Nov 28 to 30. It will also visit the Sun Moon Lake, participate in a baseball activity and visit another historical museum from Dec 1 to 4.

Delegation of mainland university students, teachers embarks on Taiwan visit