On May 2, 2003, Indian Defence Minister Mr. George Fernandes, on behalf of his Ministry, presented the Chinese people with 4 lakh Rupees worth of Anti-SARS medicine.

The presentation was held in the Indian Defence Ministry. Mr. Hua Junduo, Chinese Ambassador to India, accepted the medicine on behalf of the Chinese government, saying that the medicine would be transported to China as soon as possible.

Mr. Fernandes noted that he witnessed Chinese people's fighting against the SARS during his just-concluded official visit to China. Upon his return, he inquired for effective cures and medicine for the deadly disease from the Armed Forces Medical Services, and within one week, the medicine had been prepared by the Armed Forces Medical Services. He stressed that this effort was supported by the Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee, and the Indian Healthy Ministry was collecting more effective medicine, which would soon be handed over to China.

Ambassador Hua Junduo expressed his appreciation for the friendly gesture on behalf of the Chinese government and people. He said that there had been a good tradition of mutual support between the Chinese and Indian peoples, and offering Anti-SARS medicine by the Indian side was just an illustration of the Indian People's deep friendship and goodwill towards the Chinese people.