We need to act now against those who undermine international cooperation in combatting COVID-19, Chinese Ambassador Huang Xingyuan said commenting on Turkey’s refusal to allow a Cyprus charter flight from China carrying medical supplies to fly over its airspace.

Invited by CNA to comment on the incident that took place Tuesday, Ambassador Huang Xingyuan said that he “learnt from local news that a charter flight of Cyprus carrying medical supplies procured from China had to change route just before it reaches Cyprus due to denial of permission to fly over”.

This pandemic, he said, “has claimed many lives and distorted human nature. In response to this global public health crisis, it is urgent and vital to build a Community of Shared Destiny for Humankind”.

Only through unity and cooperation, said Ambassador Huang, we “can we overcome the pandemic and safeguard our common homeland”.

“We need to act now against all actions that undermine international cooperation in combatting COVID-19,” he added.

The flight finally arrived Cyprus ten hours late on Wednesday as it was diverted to Moscow before reaching Larnaca.