In April 2020, the Institute of Logistics Science and Engineering donated 1,000 medical masks and 100 protective suits to an Italian university to support its fight against COVID-19. The anti-epidemic materials had all arrived in Italy by April 10. On each box of the supplies were printed the national flags of Italy and China, FORZA ITALIA! (Stay Strong, Italy!) and other words, bearing the good wishes from Shanghai Maritime University (SMU) and our will to stand together with Italy in its battle against the epidemic.
After the outbreak of COVID-19 in Europe, Italy, the country most heavily struck, faced a gut-wrenching shortage of medical supplies. The University of Calabria, which SMU has worked with for many years, had nearly exhausted its anti-epidemic supplies as a result of its efforts in the medical relief work in the province. In addition to the 500 masks donated by the Communist Party branch of its Control and Testing faculty, the Institute of Logistics Science and Engineering quickly procured protective suits and medical materials, and overcame obstacles in logistics to send them from China in time.
The University of Calabria expressed its heartfelt gratitude for the donation on the home page of its official website. Professor Giancarlo Fortino, head of the university's International Affairs Department, said in the news: The help we have received in this time of great difficulty testifies to the deep friendship between the two institutions. Thank you, China! Thank you, Shanghai! Thank you, Shanghai Maritime University!
