A special truck bound for Ninghai middle school in Ninglang, Southwest China's Yunnan province departed from Hai'an, a county-level city of Nantong in East China's Jiangsu province on Sept 23. The truck was loaded with 50,000 face masks, 100 forehead thermodetectors and 500 kilograms of disinfectant.

To support the development of minority areas, Hai'an partnered with Ninglang in education cooperation in 1988. In the 32 years since, 281 Hai'an teachers have gone to Ninglang and supported the area's education system, creating a "Ninglang-Hai'an mode" with demonstrative and sociological value.

Since the discovery of new COVID-19 pandemic cases in Yunnan's Ruili city in mid-September, all cities and counties in Yunnan have strengthened their measures on epidemic prevention and strictly controlled the use and management of medical supplies.

Ninghai Ethnic Middle School, the counterpart school supported by Hai'an, asked for urgent help due to a shortage in supplies of epidemic prevention materials.

Hai'an has constantly paid attention to the COVID-19 pandemic control situation in Ninglang.

"Facing Ninglang's call for emergency help, Hai'an municipal Party committee and government allocated protective materials in a rush to support the prevention work at Ninghai middle school," an official from Hai'an education and sports bureau said. "We adopt the method of special truck transport and hope that our support can be delivered as quickly as possible."