Havana, May 9 (RHC)-- An IL96-300 passenger plane from Cubana de Aviación has delivered to Cuba 17 tons of medical equipment and supplies from China for the confrontation of COVID-19.

"It is the first time that cargo is transported in a passenger plane, but Cuba does not give up in the face of adversity, especially when it comes to saving lives, and Cubana de Aviación always has its wings ready when the country needs it," the airline wrote on his Twitter account.

The president of the Cuban Civil Aviation Corporation, Roberto Peña, the airline's general director, Luis Manuel Ruiz, and managers and workers involved in the operation were present at the reception at José Martí International Airport.

Earlier this week, the Chinese ambassador to Cuba, Chen Xi, handed over a donation from the Chinese Communist Party as a contribution to the fight against the pandemic, valued at some $42,500.  The shipment includes 6,000 N95 masks and 60,000 surgical masks.

The government and several companies of the Asian giant have sent a number of donations of health supplies to Cuba in the fight against COVID-19.