The 30 Chinese medical teams to the Republic of the Congo have helped foster a deep friendship between the two countries, said President of the Republic of the Congo Denis Sassou Nguesso in an interview aired on Friday evening.
Sassou Nguesso made the statement in the interview with China Media Group (CMG) in early September while he was in Beijing for a state visit and attending the 2024 Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC).
Since 1967, China has sent 964 doctors in 30 batches to the Republic of the Congo. Chinese doctors have treated about 5 million patients and performed about 150,000 operations in the country.
Targeting the high incidence of ophthalmic diseases due to strong sunlight in the Republic of the Congo, the China-Republic of Congo Friendship Hospital, inaugurated in 2013, set a special center on treatment of such diseases.
"We are planning further development of the China-Republic of Congo Friendship Hospital, which was jointly inaugurated by President Xi Jinping and myself in Brazzaville. The hospital is expected to introduce more modern medical technologies in the future. People in the Republic of the Congo hold great confidence in Chinese doctors, and this trust was developed not only from (the friendship hospital) in Brazzaville, but also in other areas in the country. Chinese doctors have been taking care of our people, during which they have built a harmonious relationship," said Sassou Nguesso.
Chinese medical teams in Republic of Congo help foster deep friendship: president
Two major Qatari energy facilities shut down operations after being damaged during Iran's strikes targeting the Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, Qatari Foreign Ministry spokesman Majed Al-Ansari said on Tuesday, adding that the situation had been contained.
QatarEnergy announced on Monday that it had suspended liquefied natural gas (LNG) production following attacks on two of its energy facilities, and on Tuesday said it was suspending production of downstream natural gas products such as urea and methanol.
The shutdown sent gas prices skyrocketing on global energy markets, provoking fears of an energy crisis sparked by the conflict in the Middle East.
Speaking during his weekly press conference, Al-Ansari said that the decision to shut down the facilities was taken as a precaution, to ensure the safety of personnel and infrastructure after the strike damaged key production and processing sites.
"The damage was contained and now the operations to assess, technically, the safety of the facilities is underway. And from the defensive posture, as you have seen, we have been ready in monitoring and dealing with all of these attacks," he said.
Al-Ansari said that Qatar is committed to de-escalating the situation, and added that Qatar had not had any contact with Iran since Feb 28.
"Qatar's diplomatic stance has always been firm and clear: committed to peace, actively promoting de-escalation, advocating dialogue and consultation, and striving to resolve the conflict peacefully," he said.
Major Qatari energy facilities damaged in Iranian strikes: foreign ministry
