Centrally-administered State-owned enterprises, also known as central SOEs, have purchased and transported a large number of goods and materials for preventing and controlling the novel coronavirus epidemic from overseas this week, China's top State assets regulator said.

Central SOEs including China Southern Airlines, China Railway Rolling Stock Corp, China COSCO Shipping Group and China Minmetals Corp, have bought tons of protective clothing , facial masks, thimerosal and medical equipment from countries including Germany, the Netherlands, Malaysia, Japan and South Korea via their global market networks, according to information released by the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of the State Council.

Based on their business expertise and operational areas, the goods purchased from foreign countries to curb the spread of infections caused by the new virus are being brought back via container vessels, cargo and passenger planes.

Among these delivery methods, China Eastern Airlines took over 20 international trips to countries such as France, the United States, Australia and Indonesia, and sent more than 210 metric tons of emergency medical supplies and proactive materials back home by Feb 1.