Copy Reference “China has taken rigorous measures to contain the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19),” commented Korn Dabbaransi, former deputy prime minister of Thailand and current president of the Thai-Chinese Friendship Association. “Major cities have been quarantined, citizens accept government advice to stay home and avoid public places, and travelers would be kept under medical observation for 14 days upon arrival at a destination. All arrangements have been scientific and effective thanks to cooperation and support from the people, and they have effectively contained the disease.”
Since the beginning of this outbreak, Dabbaransi has closely followed the developments. On behalf of his association, he has expressed sympathy and support for his Chinese brothers and sisters in the affected areas.
“In the face of this outbreak, some countries let prejudices emerge and blamed China, with which I disagree,” declared Dabbaransi, who also once served as the Thai minister of health. He considers casting blame unwarranted. The best thing anyone can do is find a way to help the Chinese people battle the epidemic.
As president of the Thai-Chinese Friendship Association and an old friend of China, Dabbaransi paired his words with deeds. On the morning of January 30, he led a delegation to the Chinese Embassy in Thailand where he donated 10,000 medical masks to Minister-Counsellor Yang Xin, charge d'affaires of the embassy, to support the health workers combating the epidemic in Wuhan, the epicenter of the outbreak.
Dabbaransi expressed profound sympathy for the Chinese people. “Since the outbreak of the epidemic, the Chinese government has resolutely taken rigorous measures to contain the spread,” he said. “I have been deeply moved by the unity and strength of the Chinese government and people in coping with such a major disaster. We donated some materials in short supply alongside our strongest moral support.”
Dabbaransi has a special emotional connection with China, a country he has visited more than 150 times since diplomatic relations were established between Thailand and China in 1975. In this battle against COVID-19, he witnessed the Chinese government and people racing the clock to build emergency and quarantine hospitals very quickly.
“From the perspective of a former minister of health, I fully endorse and admire the measures taken by the Chinese government in this battle,” he noted. “I'm confident that China is able to contain the spread of this virus quickly.”
Dabbaransi believes Thailand has been successful in treating COVID-19 patients with a recovery rate of 40 percent. Thailand has continued severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) research since 2003 and has achieved promising results in preventive medicine and reagents for routine clinical use which have proved effective in treating new patients. The 138 Thai nationals evacuated from Wuhan underwent a 14-day medical observation, after which 137 of them were discharged and only one kept under observation.
Minister-Counsellor Yang expressed appreciation for the benevolence of the Thai-Chinese Friendship Association. “Dark times shine light on true friends,” he commented. “We will always hold the help and friendship from Thailand dear to our hearts. Thai people have encouraged and supported us throughout this time of difficulty.”
“Some of my friends in Beijing came down with a cough,” revealed Dabbaransi, “They treated the problem with Thai centipede pills.”
Korn Dabbaransi
Korn Dabbaransi (sixth left), president of the Thai-Chinese Friendship Association, poses with Minister-Counsellor Yang Xin (sixth right), charge d'affaires of the Chinese Embassy in Thailand, and other guests at a ceremony for the donation of medical masks to China.