China's fight against COVID-19: A sense of responsibility to the world

The author: Djoomart Otorbaev, distinguished professor of the Belt and Road School of BNU

At this critical time in fighting the coronavirus, I would like to express my genuine and deep sympathy for the people of China, and to pray for final victory over the deadly disease. So many innocent people have lost their lives; so many families have lost their loved ones.

Under those extreme circumstances herewith I would like to share with people of China my utmost profound respect and admiration. I'm proud that today Chinese nation is united as never before at the front line of global defense against the deadly disease.

Since the coronavirus outbreak, the whole country has been mobilized to fight the disease, made all necessary deployments, implemented unprecedented prevention and control measures to stop the spread of disease. The speed, intensity and coverage of China's response have been truly unique.

The country's nationwide efforts in fighting the coronavirus demonstrate the country's capability, strength and confidence in defeating the outbreak and its sense of staunch responsibility to the world.

"Don't be afraid. The light from all over the world is on you. Don't cry. It's not just me, everyone is together to give you strength." These are the lyrics of "You are not alone," written by Malaysian musicians to support China in its battle against the COVID-19 outbreak. Millions of people around the world are united in their support to Chinese people in its current battle.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on February 15 that the leaders of more than 160 countries and international organizations have already shown their support through telegrams or letters, while the governments and peoples of many countries have donated much-needed supplies.

The world has seen before efficient fights and unity of Chinese people facing various disasters, from battle against the floods in Yangtze River in 1998, to SARS in 2003, and to huge earthquake in 2008. However the current situation and actual national response has been unique.

By conscripting professional staff, building makeshift hospitals in shortest period of time, quickly isolating the virus, sequencing its genome, mobilizing various provinces and the army to help Hubei province, the country demonstrated its exceptional ability to get united and organized very quickly.

Although the virus first appeared in China, it is not a national virus. Outbreak of the virus could happen anywhere on the planet. The disease doesn't recognize borders, regulations or rules, political or economic arrangements.

The disease is the public enemy of all people around the world. It has now become the major test of the wisdom and capability of the international community to prevent and control the outbreak.

Almost everybody around the world highly appreciates the country's efficient measures to share crucial scientific information with all interested parties, being transparent with its efforts to stop the virus from spreading on a worldwide scale.

China not only reveals its institutional advantage of quickly mobilizing enormous resources to fight the disease, but also demonstrates its aspiration to meet the common interests of the entire world.

It was again a clear proof that in the era of globalization, all human beings are living in a small global settlement where they share the same wellbeing and obligations.

By endorsing the idea of building a community with a shared future for mankind, China now is not only taking responsibility for the safety and health of its people, but also committed to the cause of safeguarding international public health. In this invisible "war" with the coronavirus where no weapons are used, the entire world has become a small community of common destiny.

In times of crisis and viral epidemics, the world must engage in even closer cooperation. Unfortunately the country is spending some of its valuable resources on fighting against preconception, rumors and even racism from some politicians and media outlets.

In general, the international reaction has been very positive, with a few exceptions, of course. "China's deadly coronavirus could be good for U.S. jobs, manufacturing," said not a simple person from the street, but U.S. Commerce Secretary Mr. Ross. I was so sad to read his statement.

It proved that the best responses to false statements shouldn't be the empty words, but quick and practical actions, and transparency. The challenges the outbreak has brought to the country's economic and social development will be transitory. With its strong fundamentals, persistence and potential, the Chinese economy is well placed to overcome all challenges.

The basic principles on which the country and its economy were built have not changed and will not change. I'm sure that from that disease, China will emerge much stronger and even more united.

The new coronavirus outbreak once again reminded us that the unilateral approach, nationalism and protectionism which are not in line with the interests of our world will not work in the era of globalization.

Ignorance, prejudices, or selfish practices that disregard the interests of others will not be able to secure safety of people. Cooperation, solidarity and coordinated efforts are the only routes to protect the interests of the mankind.

Current fight against the COVID-19 is again a clear proof that the world is a community with a shared present and a shared future. My belief, that those are the values that should be followed by all.

Since the onset of the coronavirus pneumonia, all nations have been working together in this nationwide battle. China has launched and is winning people's war against the deadly disease to protect lives and health of all people on Earth.

(The author is the former prime minister of the Kyrgyz Republic and a distinguished professor of the Belt and Road School of Beijing Normal University. He is also a physics professor.)

https://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202002/24/WS5e531ee5a310128217279a9d.html

Country setting example for world

The author: Hisham Abu Bakr Metwally, BNU alumnus

China has been facing a formidable challenge these days in the form of a deadly virus that does not differentiate between big and small, and affects everyone.

The novel coronavirus struck when Chinese families were preparing to celebrate the Lunar New Year, causing untold misery and bringing life to a standstill across China.

China has always been able to face challenges with determination and hard work. The country has become an economic superpower, thanks to its strong leadership, which encourages innovation.

Having inspired the world through hard work, China is now setting an example through its fight against the novel coronavirus pneumonia outbreak. The large turnout of volunteers helping the nation combat the virus is an example of Chinese willingness to make sacrifices for the country.

China has been transparent in dealing with the disease, now named COVID-19, and sharing all details with other countries, which has helped to prevent its spread to more countries.

Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sisi has expressed his solidarity with China and the Chinese people, and Egypt has sent medical aid to the Chinese. On learning there was a severe shortage of face masks, Egyptian companies sent masks to China.

The news of the virus's spread, the havoc it created in terms of casualties, and the manner in which it paralyzed life in China came as a shock in Egypt.

Egypt shares very close relations with China, and it is also an important trade partner, importing goods worth about $13 billion in 2019, and exporting goods to China worth about $1.4 billion.

There is a large Egyptian community in China, with many Egyptians pursuing higher studies.

Despite the fear of the virus, many Egyptian students have preferred to remain in China because they are confident that China will be able to overcome the situation. Egyptian students feel safe in China.

There is no doubt the current situation in China will have an impact on countries around the world, since many countries depend on Chinese imports in different sectors. The fact that millions of Chinese tourists have stopped traveling will affect the tourism sector all over the world.

All countries should contribute to eliminating the virus and providing all possible support－material, technical and moral.

China was one of the countries that provided assistance to the African continent. Thank you, China, and we are with you.

We, as Arab, Islamic and African peoples, salute China's steadfastness, and we all stand with the Chinese people and the government in eliminating this virus, and restoring normal life in China.

Let us all pray for the long-term prosperity and growth of China.

(The author is first economist researcher at the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Trade and Industry. The views do not necessarily reflect those of China Daily.)

 https://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202002/18/WS5e4b3273a31012821727837b.html

A sincere letter to friends of China

 The author: Zlatko Lagumdzija, distinguished professor of the Belt and Road School of BNU

My dear friends, colleagues, People of China,

People who are suffering and struggling with novel coronavirus.

First, as a friend of China and Chinese people, I would like to offer my deepest condolences for the lives lost in this epidemic. I want to share with you my profound respect for all that you are doing under such a terrible and almost impossible circumstances.

Your courage and patience, hard work and empathy, knowledge and wisdom are not only hope for saving your great nation, but also the rest of the world as well. Today you are the first line of global defense for humanity facing the grim threat of an epidemic .

This is not fight for your future alone. It is a fight for all our futures.

The novel coronavirus threatens all of us today. Are we ready, willing and capable for having a shared future or shall we have no future at all?

The new coronavirus does not care about our borders, our norms and rules, our economic or political disputes. All of us wherever we are, are confronted with this deadly threat. This is not the first but it could be one of the last viruses threatening.

Viruses like this one are not only a common threat, but also an opportunity to come together in the fight with shared leadership, shared values, shared security, shared responsibility, shared benefits and a shared vision for a shared future.

Even when the world is wide awake and aware, I see hope in this serious situation. The unity of China and willingness to tackle this horrible virus at the same time, but also a huge desire to find a solution, the cure, and save lives, gives me a hope and also a great respect for the people of China.

You are fighting not only against this deadly unknown virus but against ignorance, selfishness, prejudices and even fake news that at times are spreading faster than the virus itself.

In this battle you are set, once again, to be an example to the world with your excellent organizational and mobilization capabilities.

Your 5,000 years of accumulated culture, selfless dedication and unity based on accumulated wisdom, and last four decades of historically unrecorded enormous growth directed at eradicating poverty while building the knowledge centers of global excellence, give me full confidence in your capacity to win this battle.

I believe that one day, soon, your struggle with the epidemic will be another building block for a community with a shared future for humanity. It will be logical consequence of Chinese accumulated thousands of years of culture and recent achievements in global poverty eradication, economic and technological heights.

I'm sure that China has a strength under the leadership of President Xi Jinping to prevail over this epidemic and overcome the threat confronting all of us. Determination driven by the force of shared future in dignity and prosperity for all, is the reason why I believe that better days are ahead.

I believe that you, and we, can make right choices for our shared future to ensure the brighter days to come.

In closing, I salute you, with the wise words of a poet:

There is a tide in the affairs of men.

Which taken at the flood, leads on to fortune.

Omitted, all the voyage of their life is bound in shallows and in miseries.

On such a full sea are we now afloat.

And we must take the current when it serves, or lose our ventures.

—William Shakespeare

The author is former prime minister of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

https://global.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202002/10/WS5e414771a31012821727669d.html