SYDNEY, February 24 (People’s Daily Online/Quanjiao Wang, Yuting Ma) Since the outbreak of the novel coronavirus pneumonia, Australian leaders and Chinese communities have conveyed heart-warming messages of sympathy and support for Wuhan and other parts of China.

On February 19, Premier of Victoria Daniel Andrews launched the “Stronger Together” campaign to tackle some of the challenges arising from the COVID-19 outbreak and to urge Victorians to come together in support.

As part of the push, some of Victoria’s most important buildings, including the Arts Centre, the NGV, the Melbourne Museum, Melbourne Town Hall and Flinders Street Station, have been illuminated in red and gold as a symbol of solidarity with Chinese Victorians on February 21.

China has been Western Australia’s largest trading partner for the past decade. In early February, Mark McGowan, Premier of WA, expressed his support for China and the Chinese People. He stated in a press conference, “We need to maintain our strong relationship with China both now and into the future. Together, we need to support our local Chinese community in Western Australia. This is not a time for discrimination, this is a time for support”.

In Queensland, Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said that “It is very important that people do not discriminate against our Chinese community. They are so involved, they contribute so much to our community, and all of the communities are absolutely doing the right thing, especially families returning from China.”

The city of Sydney adopted the agenda Solidarity with the People of Wuhan on February 17. Clover Moore, the Lord Mayor of Sydney, mentioned in the council, “My concern is for the people of Wuhan, Hubei Province and other areas of China where people have become ill and have experienced severe disruption in their daily lives.”

She also encouraged Australian manufacturers of protective medical equipment to contact Chinese local governments with offers of assistance, which the Lord Mayor’s office can facilitate.

Some local businesses conveyed their support through media interviews, newspaper articles, short videos and so on.

On February 12, FMG Chairman Andrew Forrest and CEO Elizabeth Gains published an article in the West Australian Let’s Show Support to China, in which they called for strong support for China: “We are confident the Chinese people will rebound with the resilience they have demonstrated time and again over thousands of years and FMG will continue to support China throughout this hardship and beyond.”

As a result of the impact brought by the virus outbreak, the Geraldton Fishermen Co-operative has decided to suspend its operations, but all the fishermen are confident that there will be a quick and big rebound once the epidemic is over. They also sent messages of support to the Chinese people. “Chinese people are famous for their strength and resilience. We know that this will pass and the Chinese people will prevail.”

Many Australian Chinese communities and companies immediately responded by fully mobilizing to make donations or send much-needed medical supplies. On 11 February, leaders of over 30 Chinese Associations in Western Australia gathered together and expressed support for China and Wuhan.

In the wake of the coronavirus outbreak, overseas Chinese students also made full efforts to raise funds and supplies in support of China.