Love From Africa

African countries express support, blessings to China’s fight against coronavirus

- Li Kaizhi

In January 2020, just before the Chinese Lunar New Year, the outbreak of novel coronavirus pneumonia epidemic, later named by the World Health Organization (WHO) as COVID-19, raged in Wuhan, capital of central China’s Hubei Province. As of February 17, more than 70,000 people have been diagnosed with the virus in China.

While the number continues to mount, all Chinese people are convinced that the difficulties are temporary, and victory over the virus is certain. To this end, Chinese Government and people are united in their efforts to win this anti-epidemic war.

At the same time, many countries have reached out to China to help through the difficulties. Many African countries’ governments, political leaders, enterprises and individuals have expressed their support for China in different ways.

Timely aid

In the late night of February 2, an Air Algerie plane landed in Wuhan, and then unloaded medical supplies from Algeria from its cargo hold. Algeria was one of the first batch of countries to donate epidemic prevention and control supplies to China. Algeria not only has a traditional friendly relationship with China, but also an indissoluble relationship with the province of Hubei.

In the 1960s, Algeria faced a shortage of medical workers after its independence. China was the first country in the world to announce the dispatch of medical teams to Algeria. Since 1963, more than 3,000 medical personnel from Hubei have assisted the country. Their superb medical skills and professional ethics have won high praise from the Algerian Government and people.

“We pay close attention to the situation in China and express solidarity with China on behalf of the Algerian Government and people,” Ahcene Boukhelfa, Algerian Ambassador to China, told People’s Daily. “Algeria will stand with China, especially Wuhan, at this difficult time.”