SKOPJE — China donated 230,000 euro ($253,793) worth of rescue equipment including four boats, uniforms, boots and helmets to the Macedonian protection and rescue directorate (PRD) on Aug 11, Chinese embassy in Macedonia said.

“Today’s event comes as a result of the long­-standing cooperation in relation to the directorate’s upgrading. The equipment can be used for several purposes, such as fire extinguishing, water and mountain rescue, large traffic accidents etc.,” Chinese Ambassador to Macedonia Wen Zhenshun said while presenting the equipment to PRD director Saban Saliu.

Ambassador Wen said the donation was not only a proof of the friendly bilateral relations, and it would also mark a new beginning for mutual assistance.

He also expressed his condolences to the families of the victims suffering from the heavy rains and mudslide which hit Macedonian northwestern region’s Tetovo in early August. The disaster has left at least five people dead, besides causing material damage. Some villages were cut off at that time.

Chinese company Sinohydro, which in charge of constructing Kicevo-Ohrid motorway in Macedonia, sent five technicians and equipment immediately after receiving Tetovo local authority’s requests for rescuing and cleaning the mudslide, which was highly praised by the mayor of Tetovo, according to the ambassador.