Chinese companies are stepping up production of at least 40,000 oxygen generators ordered by the Indian side and striving to deliver the required medical materials to India as soon as possible, said Sun Weidong, China's ambassador to India. 

He made the remarks on an interview with Global Times on Friday, saying that China was one of the first countries to offer support and assistance to India and also one of the first countries to put concrete actions into practice. 

The ambassador tweeted on Thursday that China has supplied more than 5,000 ventilators to India since April. "We will continue to provide support within our capacity to the Indian side to save more lives," said Sun. 

Over the past year or so, the Chinese diplomatic and consular missions in India have provided more than 70,000 face masks and 7,000 boxes of Chinese patent medicines to Chinese compatriots in India through the distribution of "health kits" and "epidemic prevention kits," according to the ambassador. 

Meanwhile, the ambassador replied to transportation concerns on Twitter, saying that air routes from China to India are operating normally and in the past two weeks，61 freight flights operated from China to India. 

"We've provided convenience in customs clearance & transportation for India to transport medical supplies from cities in China. Will continue to ensure smooth functioning of export channel of materials to India," he wrote. 

India's COVID-19 tally reached 19,164,969 on Saturday, with a single day spike of 401,993 cases, its health ministry said. Nations including China, France, Germany and the United States have pledged to send urgent medical aid.

(Cover: File photo of China's Ambassador to India Sun Weidong. /Chinese Foreign Ministry)