SARAJEVO -- The Chinese Embassy in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) has donated materials against African swine fever to the government of the Republika Srpska (RS), one of BiH's two entities, to help the local fight against the epidemic, the embassy said on Friday.

On behalf of the embassy, Political Counselor Miao Dake handed over the donation to the government of the RS on Wednesday.

"The current outbreak of African swine fever is fierce. The RS is facing serious difficulties in accessing materials needed to fight the virus, and we are willing to help it overcome the epidemic as soon as possible," Miao said.

Nina Sajic, advisor to the president of RS, expressed President Milorad Dodik's gratitude, saying that China was the first country to provide assistance, which vividly demonstrated that a "friend in need is a friend indeed." She said she looked forward to strengthening the exchange of prevention and control experience with China to overcome the epidemic as soon as possible.

The government of the RS declared on July 10 a state of emergency for the city of Bijeljina and for the municipalities of Lopare and Ugljevik due to the emergence and rapid spread of the infectious disease African swine fever.