Sharing weal and woe

After the outbreak of the novel coronavirus epidemic in China, under the personal direction of President Xi Jinping, the whole country has united as one, and taken the most strict and comprehensive prevention and control measures. These efforts are resulting in an expanding improvement in the situation.

However, the response to the epidemic requires international cooperation. The Chinese embassy in Dominica, which is thousands of miles away, has carried out proactive anti-epidemic diplomacy, striving to win the support of all walks of life in Dominica to jointly address the challenge of the epidemic.

First, we have widely introduced China's prevention and control measures. The Chinese embassy in Dominica has arranged meetings with important members of the government of Dominica. We have visited President Charles A. Savarin, Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit, and New Speaker of the House of Assembly Joseph Isaac, Foreign Affairs Minister Kenneth Darroux and Health Minister Irving Mclntyre, provided proactive notification of China's epidemic information, introduced the Chinese government's efforts in fighting against the virus and related international cooperation, presented the confidence of China in defeating the virus.

Second, we have established a joint prevention and control mechanism with Dominica. As a small Caribbean island country with an undeveloped healthcare system, Dominica is concerned about the spread of the virus, especially in February, the carnival season. To this end, the Chinese embassy set up a team with the Dominica health ministry to provide epidemic information, including prevention measures and traveler information on a regular basis. The Chinese embassy has also issued a safety notice, urging all overseas Chinese in Dominica to take precautionary measures against the virus, and requiring Chinese citizens who have recently visited or returned from China to stay at home for 14 days and report their health status to the embassy. At the same time, the Chinese government has promptly shared its treatment plans. The Health Commission of Guangdong province has expressed willingness to provide nucleic acid detection kits to Dominica.

Dominica has expressed its appreciation of the great support it has received from China.

Third, we have responded to the concerns of the parents of students from Dominica studying in China. There are 84 students from Dominica in China, 15 of whom study in Wuhan. Their parents are very concerned about their safety. The Chinese embassy together with Dominica's Ministry of Health have held meetings and forums with these overseas students' families, telling them that their children will be treated just like Chinese citizens. China will make every effort to protect them and provide for their living needs and solve their practical difficulties. The meetings and forums have reassured the parents that their children are being well cared for. The Dominica government, after comprehensive assessment, decided to let the overseas students stay in Wuhan.

Fourth, we have actively coordinated the collection of donations from various sectors in Dominica. The government of Dominica and people from all walks of life are willing to support China's fight against the epidemic through the embassy. The embassy has also assisted the communication between the Chinese Association of Dominica and the Red Cross Society of China over voluntary donations and assisted with the donation of masks from the Dominica government to China.

The embassy's efforts have paid off handsomely. Dominica, the small Caribbean island state, with a population of just over 70,000 and a long way from China, has given understanding and full support to China's fight against the epidemic, setting an example for other countries in the Caribbean. Prime Minister Skerrit sent a letter to President Xi and Premier Li Keqiang shortly after the start of the epidemic, expressing his condolences to the Chinese government and people on behalf of Dominica. Lennox Linton, leader of Dominica's Opposition Party, also sent me a text message expressing confidence in China's anti-epidemic measures. People from all walks of life in Dominica have also called the embassy in solidarity with China.

On Feb 10, at the opening ceremony of the new Parliament of Dominica, President Savarin and Prime Minister Skerrit issued statements of support for China and praised the outstanding leadership of the Chinese leaders in the country's prevention and control efforts. Skerrit also made a special appeal to all countries in the world not to isolate China during this difficult period, but to join hands with China to fight the epidemic, and announced that Dominica would donate 10,000 masks to China.

On Feb 16, Prime Minister Skerrit visited the Chinese embassy in Dominica in person to express his condolences. On Feb 26, Prime Minister Skerrit and his wife and all cabinet members made a special visit to the Chinese embassy in Dominica to convey once again the support extended to China in its fight against the novel coronavirus by the government and people of Dominica.

At the same time, thanks to the proper arrangements of both sides, the members of the medical aid team and agricultural aid team from China have returned to Dominica successfully and safely. The friendly cooperation between China and Dominica has not been suspended by the epidemic.

A friend in need is a friend indeed. In September 2017, Dominica was hit by Maria, a category five hurricane. China immediately announced it would provide more assistance to Dominica. Just as Foreign Minister Darroux said, China and Dominica are friends sharing weal and woe. Dominica will stand firmly with China and will stick to the principle of one China.

As the Chinese ambassador to Dominica, I am deeply grateful for the friendly measures taken by the government and people of Dominica. This fully proves that since the establishment of diplomatic ties 16 years ago, relations between China and Dominica have been increasingly consolidated and our friendship has been deeply rooted in the hearts of the two peoples. China and Dominica will go far on the road to building a community with a shared future for mankind.

The author is the Chinese ambassador to Dominica. 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.