MADRID/BEIJING - With a dire shortage of
protective face masks in Europe, even for health workers, a
senior manager at a Spanish furniture store group was surprised
to hear business partners and staff in China offering to send
him masks.
The starting point of the coronavirus pandemic, and for
weeks its epicenter, China has seen new cases fall over the past
weeks.
The death toll from the respiratory disease is now higher in
Europe, particularly in Italy and Spain, causing a rush to find
protective gear.
"I worked in China for several years. When you're there,
they give you things like tea, liquor or cookies. But up until
now the suppliers did not send us gifts to Spain," said Ignacio
Rey, the commercial director of Rey Corporación.
Rey is expecting to receive next week a parcel of 100 masks,
which he plans to give to a local health centre. His import
manager has received masks from a supplier and staff in China
have also asked if they could help.
"They don't do it as a business, they don't charge, they are
very concerned," Rey said.
Business leaders in China and Europe say this was quickly
becoming a popular trend, coming on the back of the so-called
"mask diplomacy" which has seen the Chinese government send
much-publicised gear to hard-hit European countries.
Song Li, deputy general manager of Beijing Best Buy
International Trade Co, which exports and imports porcelain and
wine in Europe and Asia, said his company was sending masks to
clients in Europe as a gesture to strengthen their relationship.
"It's funny to think that there is no better present than
masks now," he said. "It's very easy to buy masks in China now,
so why not?"
Clients in South Korea had sent his company 300 masks, but
transport disruption meant they arrived late and he is now
sending them on to clients in Austria and the Netherlands.
Not everyone in Europe is accepting these gifts.
"I've asked all my clients, some of whom I've been working
with for over ten years, if they need masks," said Jerry Guo,
sales director of Zhejiang-based Jiaxing Highenter Standard
Parts Company, which exports fasteners to Europe.
However, the clients declined his gift.
"Perhaps the
Westerners are not used to wearing masks," he said.