BEIJING: China may not have fully recovered from the impact of the novel coronavirus pandemic, but it has still selflessly offered help to other countries that have been stricken by the disease.
Chinese President Xi Jinping stressed on multiple occasions that public health security is a common challenge faced by humanity, and all countries should join hands to tackle it.
“For countries that have assisted China in its fight against the epidemic, we will reciprocate their kindness without any hesitation if they need it,” Geng Shuang, spokesperson of China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said at a regular press conference on March 23.
So far, the Chinese government has announced that it will provide medical supplies to 82 countries, the World Health Organization (WHO), as well as the African Union.
Many countries have recently received anti-epidemic supplies from China, including the country’s close neighbors that are separated by only a narrow strip of water, such as Japan, South Korea, and the Philippines, as well as countries in distant continents, such as France, Spain, Greece, and Peru.
China is the only country in the world that can help Serbia at this point, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said on March 15 on television as he announced a national state of emergency in response to the COVID-19 outbreak.
That same evening, 1,000 rapid nucleic acid testing kits donated by China to the country arrived in capital Belgrade.
On March 21, a team of Chinese medical experts arrived in Serbia to help with the country’s efforts to fight COVID-19. The medical team was warmly greeted by Vucic, who touched elbows with each member of the Chinese aid team and kissed the Chinese national flag to express his deep gratitude to China. On March 12, China sent a nine-member medical team to Italy to help contain the novel coronavirus outbreak there.
“The people of your hometowns are now safe because of your efforts. And now you continue to charge courageously towards the virus…The people of your motherland will wait for news of your victory and hope to take you home soon,” said the captain in an announcement on the chartered plane carrying the aid team and tons of medical supplies.
“Only in difficult times can you know who your real friends are. We must remember this help from the Chinese people and cherish this friendship,” an Italian netizen commented. The joint efforts of China and the European Union (EU) to fight COVID-19 and get through this difficult time demonstrate their good friendship and cooperation, stressed European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in a recent phone conversation with Chinese Premier Li Keqiang.
– The Daily Mail-People’s Daily News exchange item
