Show of solidarity

Russia is standing shoulder-to-shoulder with China in the fight against the novel coronavirus

Since the outbreak of the novel coronavirus in China, its largest neighbor, Russia, has expressed its support for and solidarity with China in surmounting the difficulties. The support from the Russian government and civil society has warmed the hearts of Chinese people and injected vigor into China's efforts to fight the epidemic, while reflecting the strong people-to-people exchanges between the two sides, and the deepening of the Sino-Russian Comprehensive Strategic Partnership of Coordination for a New Era.

After the outbreak of the epidemic, Russian President Vladimir Putin sent a letter to Chinese President Xi Jinping to express his condolence and praise China's efforts in preventing and controlling the epidemic. Russia sent epidemic control experts to China, and donated 23 tons of medical and relief supplies, including 2 million pieces of face masks and other protective equipment. It also carried urgently-needed medical supplies to Wuhan, the epicenter of the outbreak, on a military transport aircraft deployed to evacuate Russian nationals living in the city on Feb 5.

The Russian authorities have voiced support for China on multiple occasions. On Jan 31, Putin expressed the willingness to assist China in combating the coronavirus in a telegram message sent to Xi. In the message he said the Russian authorities would cooperate closely with China to ward off the shared threat as soon as possible. Putin said the Chinese authorities had taken decisive measures to control the spread of the coronavirus and minimize the impact of the epidemic. On the same day, Putin ordered relevant government departments to provide necessary assistance to China. On Feb 4, Putin expressed his concern over the epidemic as well as his confidence that China would win the battle against the epidemic when meeting with activists in Cherepovets in Vologda region. On Feb 5, he again voiced support for China at a ceremony in which the ambassadors of 18 countries presented their credentials. Putin told Zhang Hanhui, Chinese ambassador to Russia the Chinese authorities are taking decisive and vigorous measures in order to stop the epidemic and Russia stands ready to provide the friendly Chinese people with all kinds of assistance. On Feb 12, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Maria Zakharova voiced support for China's efforts in fighting the coronavirus in the Chinese language.

The two sides have ramped up cooperation in prevention and control of epidemic since the outbreak. The Sino-Russian Comprehensive Strategic Partnership of Coordination for a New Era, which was established in a deal signed by the top leaders of the two countries in June 2019, enriched the bilateral relationship. The document broadened the scope of cooperation between the two countries in health issues, including strengthening collaboration in responding to public health emergencies caused by natural or human reasons and minimizing the medical consequences; and further expanding cooperation in diagnosis and treatment of contagious diseases and epidemic prevention and control. Under the framework of the partnership, the two sides will step up coordination in research on and the monitoring of dangerous viral and infectious diseases with natural foci, as well as in academic research on risk assessment of environmental elements affecting human health.

On Feb 5, five Russian epidemic prevention experts went to Wuhan to work together with Chinese peers on researching vaccines and test kits for the novel coronavirus. Five days later, virus test kits developed by the Russian experts passed assessment. The test kits can be preserved at a temperature of 4 C, while similar test kits developed by other countries need to be preserved at minus 20 C. The testing is easy to do, with only smear samples from nose and pharynx required to be collected, and the test outcome can be seen in four hours. Russian experts said the test kits, which are based on molecular genetics, are able to identify new strains and pathogens responsible for the SARS.The scientists of the two countries are now working on co-developing vaccines for the virus.

Russian media have voiced their support for China in combating the epidemic. On Feb 10, Rossiyskaya Gazeta, a leading Russian newspaper, published an editorial and touching posters to show its solidarity with China, demonstrating the close friendship of the two countries. Russian people, including businessmen, tourists, students and foreign officers, voiced their support for China and Wuhan on Chinese social media platforms, with many video clips from Russia having warmed the hearts of Chinese people. More than 10,000 Russians live in China, and they stay here because they believe China can overcome the epidemic.

The Russian authorities will cooperate closely with China to ward off the shared threat. The relationship between the two countries has proved to be one featuring mutual assistance and mutual support in this difficult time. The epidemic will not disrupt the further development of two countries' relationship. Instead, it will showcase to the world the true meaning of the Sino-Russian Comprehensive Strategic Partnership of Coordination or a New Era, which is supporting each other in difficult times.

The author is a senior researcher of the Institute of Russian, East European and Central Asian Studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. The author contributed this article to China Watch, a think tank powered by China Daily. The views do not necessarily reflect those of China Daily.