A ceremony marking DMI Industrial Group's donations of epidemic prevention supplies to Sri Lanka is held on March 22. [Photo/e23.com]

The DMI Industrial Group in Jinan, the capital of Shandong province, recently donated a batch of mask manufacturing machines valued at 17.64 million yuan ($2.71 million) to Sri Lanka to help the country's epidemic prevention and control efforts.

Yin Qingzhong, vice-mayor of Jinan, delivers a speech at the ceremony on March 22. [Photo/e23.com]

The move is of great significance in promoting people-to-people exchanges between China and Sri Lanka, said Yin Qingzhong, vice-mayor of Jinan, at the donation ceremony on March 22.

Sri Lankan Ambassador to China Doctor Palitha Kohona expressed his gratitude for the generous donation at the ceremony.

He has been deeply impressed by the company's industrial manufacturing technology as well as its efforts and contribution to the fight against the pandemic. The mask production machines will greatly help enhance epidemic prevention and control efforts in Sri Lanka, he added.

Sri Lankan Ambassador to China Palitha Kohona expresses his gratitude for the generous donation at the ceremony. [Photo/e23.com]

Kohona also expressed hope that the two sides will continue to cooperate in the fields of finance, investment and trade. The Sri Lankan Embassy in China will provide strong support for mutual exchanges.

According to Yin, Jinan is an important equipment manufacturing base in China. He said he expects to see more efforts made to deepen cooperation and promote economic development between the two sides.