CHINA'S FIGHT AGAINST COVID-19

At the turn of 2020, China was already at war with a highly infectious pneumonia caused by a novel coronavirus (COVID-19) found in Wuhan, capital of central China's Hubei Province. Some 1.4 billion Chinese are working around the clock to fight the outbreak. Medical teams from all over China rushed to Hubei to assist the fight and save lives.

The challenge affects all human beings and needs to be tackled jointly by the international community. By February 23, the serious virus had infected nearly 78,811 people in 29 countries and killed 2,462. China's strong measures are saving not only its own people, but people around the world.

STRONG MEASURES AGAINST COVID-19

Since the outbreak of COVID-19, fighting the epidemic has been dominating the Chinese government agenda. Chinese President Xi Jinping delivered important instructions and made comprehensive arrangements for prevention and control efforts. Chinese Premier Li Keqiang heads the leading group of the CPC Central Committee on prevention and control of the epidemic. Teams of top medical experts from all over China ventured to Wuhan, the epicenter.

To save lives, quick, decisive and scientific measures were taken by the government. High-level emergency alerts were activated across China and vigorous public health measures were taken to identify, diagnose, and isolate infections or suspected cases at the earliest possible moment.

Openness and Transparency

China has maintained an open and transparent attitude to the public. The government has arranged daily press briefings on the anti-virus war. Similar press briefings have also been held in Hubei and other severely affected regions. China has shared technological information and the full genome sequence of some virus strains with the World Health Organization (WHO). The government has expanded international cooperation through providing timely information.

Massive Quarantine

To curb the epidemic, the Chinese government made the decision to quarantine Wuhan on January 23. To further stop the spread of the virus, China rolled out a host of unprecedented moves including extending the Spring Festival holiday, postponing the spring semesters of schools and universities, and adopting transport restrictions in many areas.

Building Hospitals

More hospitals were built in Wuhan as the government vowed to guarantee treatment for all. Emergency hospitals Huoshenshan and Leishenshan were built in less than two weeks to provide dedicated facilities to treat coronavirus-infected patients with 2,600 beds in total. Another 13 temporary hospitals with a total capacity of 10,000 beds for confirmed mild cases were converted from available facilities.

Rapid Mobilization

Many doctors and nurses have volunteered to go to Wuhan. By February 20, a total of 255 medical teams with more than 32,500 doctors and nurses from all over the country had arrived in Hubei to join the fight. More than 4,000 military medical workers were dispatched to Wuhan including professionals with experience fighting SARS and Ebola. The Chinese government has also mobilized efforts to send more medical supplies to Wuhan.

Economic Support

China has strengthened supervision and introduced strict measures to deal with unqualified and derelict officials. A group of officials were dismissed or disciplined for shirking responsibility in the fight against the epidemic according to a February 12 report from Hubei provincial discipline inspection authority. Top officials in Hubei Province and the city of Wuhan were replaced on February 13.

Laws to be Amended

On February 14, President Xi called for an assessment of potential revision of laws and regulations concerning infectious disease prevention and treatment as well as wildlife protection. He also suggested accelerating establishment of a law on bio-security. It was reported that an amendment to the Law of Wild Animal Protection was added to this year's legislative agenda to crack down on indiscriminate trade and consumption of wildlife.

Officials' Reshuffle

China has increased financing guarantee support for virus-related enterprises and epidemic-stricken small and micro enterprises. Tax and fee cuts for enterprises have been introduced. New tax policies have been released to support epidemic control by boosting enterprises involved in epidemic prevention and treatment, increasing materials supply, ensuring ideal distribution of public donations and supporting companies restarting production.

Chen Yixin, secretary-general of the Commission for Political and Legal Affairs of the CPC Central Committee, went to Hubei on February 8 as deputy head of a central government group to guide local disease prevention and control work.

INTERNATIONAL SUPPORT

The virus threatens all human beings and demands joint efforts from the international community. According to WHO, 1,769 COVID-19 cases had been confirmed in 28 countries outside China by February 23. By February 14, a total of 33 countries and four international organizations had donated epidemic prevention and control supplies to China.

Belarusian Aid Lands in China

On the afternoon of February 6, an aircraft carrying the second load of humanitarian aid from Belarus landed in Beijing. The supplies totaled 20 tons and included face masks, gloves, protective clothing, disinfectant and other medical supplies. Belarus has shipped a total of 40 tons of aid to China so far.

Pakistan Stands with China

The Pakistani government collected 300,000 medical masks, 800 hazmat suits and 6,800 pairs of gloves from public hospitals around the nation and transported the aid to China. The medical supplies from Pakistan arrived in China on February 1.

Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan declared that Pakistan strongly believes that China can leverage its unique institutional advantages to overcome the epidemic. He said that Pakistan is ready to mobilize all the country's medical supply reserves to assist China as they firmly stand alongside their Chinese brothers.

Hun Sen's Visit Cements Solidarity between China and Cambodia

On February 5, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen visited China and met with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing.

“A friend in need is a friend indeed,” declared Xi. Hun Sen affirmed that the Cambodian people are standing together with the Chinese at this special moment.

Hun Sen explained that his decision to come to China at this special time was intended to highlight the strong support of the Cambodian government and people for the Chinese government and people in their fight against the disease.

WHO Team Heads to China

On February 10, the World Health Organization (WHO) sent a team of international experts to China to work with Chinese experts. The WHO team, representing half of the “China-WHO joint expert investigation group,” was led by Bruce Aylward, a veteran of public health emergencies.

The central goal of the WHO team's visit was to conduct in-depth exchange between experts on the situation of the epidemic and its prevention and control to provide outside advice and suggestions for China as well as other affected countries and regions in the world.

Virus Fight Brings China, Japan Closer

Members of Japan's ruling party, the Liberal Democratic Party of Japan (LDP), are each donating about 320 yuan to China, according to Toshihiro Nikai, the party secretary general.

Japan was ready to provide all possible assistance to China and work with China to combat the epidemic, Nikai added.

Japan has collected 120,000 sets of protective outfits to be sent to medical institutions in Hubei, Zhejiang and Guangdong provinces as well as other places as soon as possible.

The epidemic has shone light on true friendship, which China will remember, went a popular Chinese sentiment on the internet.

‘China's Difficulties Are Ours’

The government of South Korea announced on February 11 that it would donate medical supplies and equipment worth around 3.5 million yuan (US$506,000) to dozens of Chinese cities including Beijing to help China combat the pneumonia epidemic.

The South Korean Embassy displayed a banner reading, “China's difficulties are ours.” It also posted a picture of a banner reading “The South Korean Embassy is with you” on the Chinese social media platform Sina Weibo with the hashtag #BecauseWeAreFamily.

“We would have seen many more cases outside China if not for the (Chinese) government's efforts and progress in protecting their own people and the people of the world. I will praise China again and again because its actions definitely helped reduce the spread of the novel coronavirus to other countries.”

—WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said in a speech on January 30

“The Russian people are ready and willing to offer necessary aid to the friendly Chinese people. Relevant Russian departments will work with their counterparts in China through close coordination to eliminate this common threat.”

—Russian President Vladimir Putin said in a call to President Xi Jinping on January 31

“The international community has been greatly impressed by the efforts and determination of the Chinese government to fight the epidemic and the extensive epidemic prevention measures it has taken. The Thai people will huddle together with the Chinese people in times of trouble.”

—Thai King Maha Vajiralongkorn said in a January 31 message to President Xi Jinping

“The coronavirus is a public health event, not a matter of ethnicity or nationality. China is doing its best to control the spread of the epidemic including canceling all outbound tourist groups and arranging to bring Hubei people back from abroad. China is doing a responsible job.”

—Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said on February 1

“China has been kind to us. We can only return the favor to them. Stop the Sinophobia.”

—Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte urged citizens to reject Sinophobia during a February 3 press briefing

“As China's sincere partner, Indonesia will always firmly stand with the Chinese people and work together to seize victory over the epidemic as soon as possible. Indonesia has sent a load of medical supplies to China. We are ready to continue assistance in response to the needs of the Chinese side.”

—Indonesian President Joko Vidodo said in a February 11 phone conversation with President Xi Jinping

“Malaysia appreciates China's great efforts and major progress in the fight against the epidemic and considers China's contributions to safeguarding world public security evidence of a responsible major country.”

—Former Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir said in a February 13 phone conversation with President Xi Jinping

“Although Cambodia is a small country, in recent years, we have always joined the international community in solving issues affecting the world and the region. The real disease is fear and discrimination, not novel coronavirus or COVID-19.”

—Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen said on February 14, after Cambodia allowed a Westerdam cruise ship that had been stranded at sea for days over COVID-19 fears to dock at Sihanoukville