<span style="color: #222222;">Efforts by private Indian businesses to procure much-needed oxygen concentrators and other medical supplies from China are facing serious disruptions as China's state-run Sichuan Airlines has not yet revoked the suspension of its cargo flights operation to India. This happened despite China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi saying that China is ready to provide support to India in its fight against COVID-19.</span><br />'' <br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">China's Ambassador to India also tweeted that Chinese companies have been guided to fulfill the orders from India. However, at this crucial juncture, Chinese state-owned Sichuan Airlines which has the largest capacity for cargo shipment to India has suspended the operations since Monday.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">&nbsp;<br />'' Prasar Bharati Correspondent in Beijing reports that Chinese Foreign Ministry declined to comment when pointed out about the inconsistency in the announcements made by Chinese government and the actions by state owned Sichuan airlines. Its spokesperson, however, reiterated China's willingness to help and support India as per its needs. He said, Chinese companies have been led by the government to take action.&nbsp;</span><br />'' <br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">The first batch of oxygen concentrators have arrived in India. We would like to cooperate with India in multiple ways to provide assistance. We believe India will defeat the virus, he said.&nbsp;</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"><br />'' The suspension of cargo flights came as a surprise to agents and freight forwarders who are frantically trying to procure the oxygen concentrators from China. On Monday, the Sichuan Chuanhang Logistics Co. Ltd, the company which is part of the Sichuan Airlines said the airline has suspended all its ten cargo flights on all the four routes, including Xian to Delhi, amid hectic efforts by private traders from both sides to procure oxygen concentrators from China. Other cargo flight operators have limited capacity. Now it becomes very challenging to rush the supplies as they have to be rerouted through Singapore and other countries through different airlines, which delays the much-needed supplies.</span><br />'' &nbsp;
News On AIR | April 29, 2021 8:42 PM
Procurement of COVID-19 medical supplies from China hampered as Chinese state-owned Sichuan Airlines yet to resume cargo flights to India