The Chinese government has sent a team of medical experts to Cambodia to help the country fight the COVID-19 pandemic, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Geng Shuang announced Monday, hailing the "ironclad" friendship between the two sides. 
  
The seven-member team, organized by the National Health Commission and consisting of experts selected by the Health Commission of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, arrived in Phnom Penh Monday morning. 
  
The Chinese have also donated a batch of medical supplies to Cambodia, including test kits, N95 protective masks, surgical masks, isolation gowns and medical protective suits, Geng said at a press briefing. 
  
Cambodia has expressed firm confidence and support for China in winning the battle against the epidemic and people from all walks of life in the country also offered donations and epidemic prevention materials to China since the outbreak, Geng said.

He noted that Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni and his mother, former Queen Norodom Monineath Sihanouk, had extended sympathy and support to the Chinese side and that Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen had visited China at the early stage of the outbreak. 

Hun Sen paid a visit to Beijing and met Chinese leaders on February 5, becoming the first foreign leader to visit China since the outbreak. 

"A friend in need is a friend indeed as the Cambodian people stand with the Chinese people at this special moment," Chinese President Xi Jinping told Hun Sen. 
  
Currently, the Cambodian side is fighting hard against the epidemic, Geng said. "The Chinese side is sure to make its utmost effort to provide comprehensive assistance to Cambodia." 
  
"This is not only a reflection of the special China-Cambodia friendship, but also what we should do as a community with a shared future and ironclad friends," Geng said. 
  
He said China will continue to work with Cambodia to contain the epidemic and jointly make contributions to regional public health security. 

Cambodia confirmed on Monday that two more people had tested positive for COVID-19, bringing the total number of confirmed cases in the kingdom to 86. 

(With input from Xinhua)