Hangzhou has received aid from foreign cities and individuals to help combat the novel coronavirus pneumonia outbreak. [Photo/zj.zjol.com.cn]

Hangzhou has received a significant amount of aid from foreign cities and individuals since the outbreak of the novel coronavirus pneumonia began.

According to a local news release, as of Feb 16, Hangzhou had received around 100,000 face masks and nearly 800 protective suits from nine foreign sister cities in countries such as France, Japan, Germany and South Korea, as well as individuals from said countries. The donations are worth more than 200,000 yuan ($28,668).

Jean-Pierre Raffarin, former prime minister of France, is among those who donated supplies to Hangzhou.

Raffarin was the first state leader from a western country to come to China in 2003 during the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) outbreak. He came to Hangzhou in 2007, 2010 and 2018.

In addition, he helped the West Lake scenic spot to apply for inclusion in the World Heritage Site list.

Since the outbreak of the coronavirus, Raffarin has donated a number of supplies to Wuhan and Hangzhou. The 6,000 masks he donated arrived in Hangzhou on Feb 14, for which the management committee of West Lake scenic spot wrote a letter of thanks.

Six Japanese cities - Matsue, Muko, Sayama, Hamamatsu, Kakamigahara and Fukui - also offered a helping hand to Hangzhou, with some of the cities even suffering a shortage of masks and other protective supplies themselves.   

In addition to the cities and individuals that made donations, other cities in France, Brazil, South Africa, South Korea, Italy, Mexico, the United States, Russia and India shared information regarding the production of medical supplies.

Meanwhile, 13 foreign cities that carried out friendly exchanges with Hangzhou and representatives from international organizations expressed their support to Hangzhou by sending letters and making phone calls.