Liu Jiayi, Party chief of Shandong province, wrote to all staff members at the Weichai Power (Tokyo) Science and Technology Innovation Center on Feb 28, thanking them for their support amid the epidemic.

Though they are thousands of miles from the epicenter in China, the staff of the center are still highly concerned about the situation. The center has donated 10,000 sets of biohazard suits and 2,000 N99 protective masks to Shandong and sent a joint letter expressing support for China and Shandong province.

Medical supplies donated by the Weichai Power (Tokyo) Science and Technology Innovation Center arrive in Shandong. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Staff from the center said in the letter that "We firmly believe that with our joint efforts, China will be able to overcome the epidemic and all related difficulties."

In his reply letter, Liu wrote: "A friend in need is a friend indeed! I deeply appreciate your generosity and your letter of solidarity to Shandong during this challenging time. Your actions reflect a deep friendship across national borders."

Liu also expressed hope that the center would continue to give full play to its resource advantages, accelerate scientific research, play a bigger role in Shandong's development into a modern and competitive province in the new era, and make greater contributions to economic cooperation and people-to-people exchange between China and Japan.

"Shandong will continue to support the development of the Weichai Power (Tokyo) Science and Technology Innovation Center," Liu added.

The Weichai Power (Tokyo) Science and Technology Innovation Center is established on June 20, 2018. [Photo/weichai.com]

The Weichai Power (Tokyo) Science and Technology Innovation Center was established on June 20, 2018 by Weichai Power, one of China's biggest diesel engine and heavy truck manufactures based in Weifang, Shandong province. Its purpose is to work with other overseas innovation centers to become an important support platform for Weichai Power's technological innovation system, promote the industrial development of Weichai Power, and speed up the commercialization of the company's innovations.