An import declaration form for 100,000 medical masks cleared by Zhongshan Port Customs on February 11, 2020 was recently included in the National Museum of China collection. The little declaration form shows profound friendship between overseas Chinese and native people in China in fighting the COVID-19 epidemic.

The COVID-19 pandemic swept through China rapidly in early 2020. Xiao Xiaoquan, a Zhongshan fellow villager who lives in Peru, managed to acquire a batch of anti-epidemic materials and planned to donate them to the Zhongshan Branch Red Cross Society of China and other departments.

However, there were few or no direct flights to China at that time, and cargo space was limited. "Traditional transportation channels were unavailable. We spent several days to find ways to deliver these materials to our hometown via Lima, Toronto, Vancouver and Hong Kong," Xiao Xiaoquan recalled.

On the morning of February 11, 2020, some 50 boxes containing 100,000 disposable surgical masks arrived at Zhongshan Port. After quick clearance by the customs, they were immediately sent to the front-line. This was the first anti-epidemic materials donated by overseas Chinese and imported through Zhongshan Port during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Since then, box after box of materials have been delivered to Zhongshan from all over the world.

While the epidemic situation overseas became serious later, Zhongshan was also concerned about the safety of overseas Zhongshan natives and launched the "Care and Support Action for Overseas Zhongshan Natives and Epidemic Prevention and Control" campaign on March 29, 2020.