Chinese doctor Zhang Junqiao's heroic act exemplifies deep China-Africa friendship: FM spokesperson

BEIJING, June 24 (Xinhua) -- Chinese doctor Zhang Junqiao's heroic act exemplifies the deep China-Africa friendship and the extraordinary dedication, commitment, love and fighting spirit of Chinese medical teams, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said on Tuesday.

Zhang Junqiao, the leader of the 27th Chinese medical team in Tanzania and a Chinese anesthesiologist, lost his life on June 15, while rescuing a drowning woman off the coast of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

"Our thoughts are with Zhang Junqiao's family, and it is absolutely painful to lose a dear and stellar member of Chinese medical teams in Africa," Guo said.

Guo said that it has been 62 years since China sent its first medical team to Africa in 1963, and almost 57 years since China began sending medical teams to Tanzania.

The caring and highly skilled members of Chinese medical teams have treated and saved many local people, and trained medical teams of their own, Guo said, adding the work of the medical teams has contributed so much to China-Africa friendship.

"The people of China and Africa will never forget. History will not forget," the spokesperson added.