The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) is contributing 1 million U.S. dollars to help China control the spread of COVID-19. The amount comprises donations from AIIB staff and matching funds from the Bank.

The contribution was used to purchase medical equipment to help frontline health care professionals battling the COVID-19 outbreak in Wuhan and Beijing. AIIB has been sourcing medical supplies from around the world, including 51,000 medical masks, 46,000 protective clothing, 17,000 surgery aprons, 21,000 boxes of surgical gloves and other medical and epidemic prevention supplies with a total weight of 40 tons. The first batch of materials was delivered to Wuhan and Beijing on February 24, with other batches to follow.

"AIIB's management and staff stand by the Chinese people," said AIIB President Jin Liqun. "We are ready to offer our help to the best of our ability. We want to do our part as residents of China to help stop the epidemic's spread."

AIIB also announced on February 10 that it has been in active discussions with the Chinese government to strengthen the country's emergency public health infrastructure and help meet its immediate and longer-term public health needs.

The AIIB is a multilateral development bank with a mission to improve social and economic outcomes in Asia. Headquartered in Beijing, the bank began operation in January 2016 and has now grown to 102 approved members worldwide. By investing in sustainable infrastructure and other productive sectors in Asia and beyond, the bank says it hopes to better connect people, services and markets that over time will impact the lives of billions and build a better future.