From factories in East China to hospitals across Africa, Chinese help boosts confidence in COVID-19 fight

SOLID SUPPORT

Although China has made progress in containing the COVID-19 epidemic, its medical supply remains tight. However, its government and people believe that it is imperative to extend a helping hand to friends in Africa to help them overcome their difficulty.

Liu Hongjun is running a clothing factory in China's eastern Zhejiang province, which has turned to manufacture medical equipment such as masks and protective suits.

Not long ago, Jack Ma Foundation and Alibaba Foundation contacted Liu. "I know how important these materials mean to African people, thus I accepted it without any hesitation," he said.

"Two shifts have been arranged for key posts, such as protective clothing and mask production lines, in order to ensure the delivery and the quality of the protective materials," Liu added.

Tens of thousands of miles away, Ayele and hundreds of Chinese doctors are using the masks and protective suits produced by Chinese factories like Liu's to help African patients.

According to China's National Health Commission, there are almost 1,000 Chinese medical personnel working in Africa and the agency has directed them to help local health organizations stem the spread of the coronavirus.

Since last month, Jiang Yuandong, a member of the Chinese medical team in Zimbabwe, has trained more than 140 health workers and introduced China's experience in containing the outbreak. He also gave a lecture to Zimbabwe's ministry of health officials and medical personnel to improve their understanding of the disease.

"By sending medical experts and medical supplies to other countries to contain the COVID-19 pandemic, China has proved to be a friend in need," said Kitojo Wetengere, a consultant professor of economic diplomacy and former lecturer with the Tanzania-Mozambique Center for Foreign Relations in Dar es Salaam.

CLOSE BOND

On Monday, another batch of Chinese medical supplies arrived in Accra, capital city of Ghana, and will be delivered to 17 other African countries within a few days.

"This effort shows China's firm commitment to the China-Africa relations and further strengthens the strong historical bonds between China and Africa," Chinese Ambassador to Ghana Wang Shiting said at the Accra airport.

Since the coronavirus was spreading in Africa, China has overcome its difficulties to actively assist the African Union and African countries with anti-epidemic supplies, and organize video conferences for medical experts to share experience.

The Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention has deployed a senior technical advisor to Africa CDC to closely work with local experts. More Chinese health experts are on their way to various African countries.

In a phone conversation with Namibian President Hage Geingob on Friday, Chinese President Xi Jinping said China will continue to step up assistance for African countries in combating the COVID-19 epidemic.

During the most difficult period of China's fight against COVID-19, African countries provided China with valuable support, which will be engraved in the hearts of the Chinese people, Xi said.

Chinese enterprises and non-governmental organizations have also extended a helping hand to African countries, he added, pointing out that all these are true manifestations of the China-Africa community with a shared future.

Leaders of African countries have expressed their gratitude for China's help and confidence in their victory over COVID-19.

Noting that China is the best friend of Namibia and of Africa, Geingob said he deeply appreciates the Asian country's timely and precious assistance and support to African countries in their fight against the disease.

Zimbabwe President Emmerson Mnangagwa spoke highly of "the true act of friendship" that is crucial to Africa's fight against the virus.

"With unity, discipline and cooperation, we can prevail," Mnangagwa said.