"Once again, I want to say thank you", said Gambian President Adama Barrow to the Chinese medical aid team against the COVID-19 pandemic on Thursday.

"You are committed to the course. You have been very supportive. So we cannot thank you enough," the president said.

At the request of the Gambian government, China sent a medical expert team to Gambia in early November when international flights resumed operation.

The team helped rearrange treatment centers, developed an epidemic surveillance system and managed some patients who were in critical condition, said Ahmadou Samateh, Gambian minister of health.

"This is an important measure to implement the spirit of the special summit on China-Africa solidarity, and it is a vivid manifestation of the profound friendship between China and Gambia," said Ma Jianchun, Chinese ambassador to Gambia.