Under the strong leadership of President Xi Jinping and the unremitting efforts of Chinese people, the overall situation of the COVID-19 epidemic in China has been improving, and major progress has been made in epidemic prevention. Wuhan, in Hubei Province of China, ended the lockdown on April 8th after being closed for 76 days, marking an important victory in China’s fight against the epidemic and sending an encouraging message to the world that the epidemic can be prevented, controlled and treated.
In the face of the severe test of the epidemic, China and Africa are more united than ever, demonstrating the brotherhood of sharing weal and woe as well as the high level of China-Africa strategic cooperation. At the most difficult moment in China’s fight against the epidemic, the African Union and African governments and people have stood firmly with China, provided valuable moral support and material help for the Chinese people, and explicitly opposed to politicize the epidemic and label the virus. We will always keep that in mind.
As the epidemic continues to spread in Africa, President Xi Jinping has communicate by telephone with the leaders of South Africa, Egypt as well as other African leaders to express care and support. At the G20 Extraordinary Summit, he called on the international community to increase assistance to Africa. State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi also spoke with Mussa Faki, Chairperson of the African Union Commission and some African foreign ministers to communicate and coordinate on jointly combating the epidemic. Although in the face of the arduous task of fighting the epidemic, Chinese government has urgently dispatched material assistance to African countries and the African Union, convened a video conference for Chinese experts to exchange experience with African counterparts, mobilized more than 1,000 Chinese medical workers in Africa to actively participate in epidemic fighting in their host countries, and help African countries to build and adapt COVID-19 designated hospitals. Chinese enterprises and civil institutions have also supported Africa’s fight against the epidemic through various ways, including donating medical supplies and offering technical support. China will continue to step up material assistance to Africa within its capacity and send medical expert teams to more African countries. China will stand firmly with Africa and fight with the African brothers and sisters until the virus is completely defeated in African continent.
As the global epidemic situation remains severe at present, the most imperative task for China is to prevent imported cases and domestic resurgence. China is facing mounting pressure in this regard. In light of the spread of the epidemic, Chinese governments at all levels develop and implement quarantine and prevention measures for all people entering into China to safeguard the hard-won achievements in containing the epidemic. These measures are in accords with relevant domestic laws and regulations taking into consideration of the common practices of many countries. In a bid to plug potential loopholes, local governments undertake comprehensive investigations, conduct nucleic acid testings and execute health management for people with high risks of infection. China intensifies anti-epidemic measures not just to be responsible to its own people but also to all foreign nationals in China. Chinese government always treats foreign nationals and Chinese citizens equally, implements relevant measures without differentiation, fully accommodates legitimate concerns of the persons concerned and respects their religion and customs. We hope all foreign nationals in China strictly observe local anti-epidemic regulations and cooperate with and support us in containing the epidemic. We will achieve the final victory by our joint efforts.
As a responsible country, Chinese government always attaches great importance to the safety, health and normal lives of all foreign nationals in China, including Africans. Since the outbreak of the epidemic, Chinese relevant departments and local governments have made every effort to meet the living, epidemic control and medical needs of foreign nationals in China, and provided timely treatment to those infected with COVID-19 without differentiation. When the epidemic situation in China was at stake, only one of all the 3,000-odd African students in Hubei Province was infected and then quickly cured. The rest have been safe and sound.
The historical experience and lessons we have gained from the fight between human beings and viruses are that unity is the most powerful weapon to defeat any epidemic. As the COVID-19 virus knows no boundary and ethnic, human beings are a community of a shared future going through thick and thin together. Our common enemy is the virus and not each other. Blame-shifting, smearing, discrimination and stigmatization will not hinder the spread of the virus but the globally joint anti-epidemic efforts. In the current situation, China and Africa need more than ever mutual trust, common support and solidarity to tide over the crisis hand in hand. When everybody adds firewood, the flames will rise high. I am convinced that through collaboration of action and unity of will, we will prevail over the epidemic and embrace a brighter future for common development of China and Africa!