Xiaomi donates masks to Italy in hour of need

The Chinese tech and consumer electronics company Xiaomi donated tens of thousands of masks to the Italian government last week, to help the epidemic-stricken country tide over difficulties and relieve the pressure of medical resources shortage.

The Xiaomi Italia Facebook page announced Friday that Xiaomi was sending the first shipment of FFP3 masks to the Italian Civil Protection Department, which is responsible for coordinating the resource distribution to local authorities, according to the US news portal Newsweek.

As noted in the Facebook post, Xiaomi offered masks as a token of gratitude for letting the company settle in the Italian market, and felt "loved and deeply integrated into the life of the country" since it arrived two years ago. "This is also why we felt the duty to support Italy in the control of the COVID-19 epidemic, by donating a first important quantity of FFP3 masks." said Xiaomi.

The shipment crates of Xiaomi's donations featured a quote from the ancient Roman philosopher Seneca - "Siamo onde dello stesso mare, foglie dello stesso albero, fiori dello stesso giardino", which reads "We are waves from the same sea, leaves from the same tree, flowers from the same garden" in English.

"The continuous growth and rapid expansion of Xiaomi in Italy are closely linked to our users, fans and the general public; this gesture therefore does not represent only a way to thank and to give our support, but it is the tangible demonstration that we feel like an integral part of this country. And it is precisely this sense of belonging, combined with deep solidarity, that imposes a high sense of responsibility on all citizens as a global company," said Chew Shou Zi, CFO and president of International Xiaomi Corporation, in a statement provided to Mashable Italia, a local Italian media outlet, over the weekend, Newsweek cited.

Xiaomi's support for Italy to combat the epidemic has won applause and acclaim globally on social media. Some Italians thanked Xiaomi for the assistance during this critical moment. The Facebook user Ramona Morea said what Xiaomi has done is heartwarming. "I'm happy to see that humanity is still alive. Great quote, btw," she added. Another user name John D Hamilton praised how "Xiaomi is a different kind of corporation; it's a community, a global community making a true difference in the world." He also cited a quote in the comment: "No winter lasts forever, spring is sure to follow."