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China selflessly extends helping hand to countries around world in global battle against COVID-19

(People's Daily Online)    13:52, March 25, 2020

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 experts and local doctors pose for a photo in Padova, Italy. (Photo/Courtesy of Chinese expert team in Italy)

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.

“We are grateful for support from China,” von der Leyen said in a videotaped speech given in English, French and German.

On March 22, a large amount of medical supplies donated by China’s Jack Ma Foundation to 54 African countries arrived in Addis Ababa, capital of Ethiopia.

“This shows the strong commitment and solidarity of these two countries and these two leaders to really bringing significant impact on reversing the outbreak of COVID-19 not only in Ethiopia but also in the whole of Africa,” said Ethiopia’s Minister of Health Lia Tadesse, hailing the donation in front of journalists.

On the morning of March 23, a seven-member Chinese expert team arrived at Phnom Penh International Airport in Phnom Penh, capital of Cambodia, along with tons of medical supplies. The team was the first Chinese medical team sent to a member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to take part in the fight against COVID-19.

Besides sending medical supplies and teams to help fight the virus around the world, China has also made great efforts to share its experience in fighting the pandemic and relevant materials regarding COVID-19 with various countries through multiple methods.

The country has so far shared a number of technical documents on the pandemic with more than 100 countries and regions as well as more than 10 international and regional organizations, including documents on the prevention and control of the COVID-19 and its diagnosis and treatment plans for the disease.

Technical exchanges with these countries and regions have been held in multiple ways, including discussions among experts and teleconferencing.

On March 12, renowned Chinese respiratory scientist Zhong Nanshan and the intensive care team at the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University talked with Harvard Medical School and U.S. intensive care specialists via video link for the fourth time, explaining to the U.S. specialists the clinical manifestations and difficulties involved in treating severe and critical novel coronavirus patients.

Chinese experts have spared no effort to share their experience, a professor at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in the U.S. said after a video conference.

Chinese experts have shared their abundant experience in great detail, which can serve as an important reference for diagnosis and treatment of COVID-19, as well as the overall prevention and control of the pandemic, the professor added.

After sharing their experience with Chinese experts at a video conference, the head of the COVID-19 emergency coordination team of the Bosnian Serb Republic said the video conference had been very useful and timely.

So far, China has released seven editions of a guideline on diagnosis and treatment of the disease and six editions of a prevention and control plan for the disease, both of which have been translated into multiple languages.

In addition, the Handbook of COVID-19 Prevention and Treatment, which was compiled by dozens of top Chinese medical workers who recently returned from the front line of the country’s battle against the virus, was posted online a few days ago.

These efforts by the country have touched people in a growing number of countries around the world.

In recent days, the Chinese national anthem has been heard to play in the Italian cities of Rome and Milan, with Italians staying at home shouting “Grazie China” (Thank you, China) along to the grand melodies.

Learning from China’s experience in prevention, control, and treatment of COVID-19 can help Iran save time and avoid detours and mistakes, said Kianoush Jahanpour, a spokesman for Iran’s health ministry, noting that support from China has added to the country’s strength in fighting the pandemic.

Gratitude to China has recently become a hot topic on major social media platforms in Serbia. Many people thanked China for its medical assistance via multiple media, such as video, pictures, and words in several languages including Serbian, English and Chinese.

Comments from Serbian Internet users on China’s support include: “Thank you, selfless and fearless Chinese friends,” “Chinese experts, you have brought hope to us,” and “I will go to China to express my gratitude as soon as the pandemic ends.”

“The rescue efforts of our motherland make me want to cry,” said Zhang Yujie, a Chinese student in France.

“China has shown its sense of responsibility as a major country in its joint efforts with Spain to fight the virus, which makes us overseas Chinese in Spain feel warm and proud,” said Xiang Jing, director of a news department of a local media outlet serving Chinese in Spain.

(For the latest China news, Please follow People's Daily on Twitter and Facebook)(Web editor: Hongyu, Liang Jun)

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