This archive report was first published on 18 June 2020.
China and Africa Unite Against COVID-19 ¶
As the world grapples with the COVID-19 pandemic, China and Africa have demonstrated remarkable solidarity in the face of adversity.
According to a recent white paper titled 'Fighting COVID-19: China in Action', the international community, particularly between China and Africa, has become a source of power in the fight against the epidemic.
Since the outbreak of the pandemic in China, many African countries, including Kenya, have provided material and spiritual support to China. This has fully demonstrated the brotherly friendship between the two regions in times of adversity.
As Chinese Ambassador to Kenya, I am proud to have played a role in facilitating this solidarity. We have worked tirelessly to provide assistance to Kenyan students in Wuhan, the hardest-hit city in China, and have also distributed free gift bags of coffee, tea, and nuts to soothe their stress and ease their homesickness.
One notable example of this solidarity is the birth of a Kenyan student's second daughter in Wuhan during the lockdown. This was made possible through the courage of the student herself, the help of local community workers, and the facilitation of our two governments.
China has also provided significant support to Kenya, including donations of medical supplies and daily necessities. Direct cargo flights have been resumed between China and Kenya, with six flights per week in peak season. We are also working to find a producer of high-standard BFE melt-blown fabric for Kenyan factories to produce N95 face masks.
As President Xi Jinping has pledged, African countries will be among the first to benefit from the COVID-19 vaccine once it is developed and deployed in China. We are also committed to working with African countries to respond to the G20's Debt Service Suspension Initiative and to hold friendly consultations to work out arrangements for commercial loans with sovereign guarantees.
As we move forward, it is clear that unity is strength. We must remain united as one, keep coordinated, and build a community with a shared future for mankind. This is the only right way to reach overall development and sustainable prosperity for us in the future.
Unity is Strength! Umoja ni nguvu!
