In recent months, the epidemic of Ebola that broke out in West African countries has been spreading, even going beyond Africa into Europe and the US, causing global panic. Under the pressure of international humanitarianism, some Western countries had to announce high-profile assistance measures. However, the Western countries are still taking separate actions, which is strange indeed.

In contrast with the approach of Western countries, China has taken a holistic approach in helping Africa to fight Ebola, participating in the whole process and offering comprehensive support.

China supports Africa in fighting Ebola both materially and morally. Apart from offering material assistance, Chinese President Xi Jinping sent timely messages of condolences to the heads of state of the three West African countries most seriously affected by Ebola, and Premier Li Keqiang exchanged phone calls with UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.

China has been fully involved in the process of fighting Ebola. In April, when Ebola just broke out, the Chinese government immediately offered emergency relief to the three West African countries. With the situation growing more serious and based on the needs of epidemic-hit regions, China later announced three consecutive rounds of assistance. China has also promised that as long as Ebola persists in Africa, China's assistance will not stop. China will stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the African people in fighting Ebola until the final victory.

China's assistance covers a host of countries, not only Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea, the three West African countries in which Ebola is most rampant, but also their 10 neighboring countries. China helps these African countries to get better prepared against potential dangers by helping build a regional anti-Ebola network to prevent the spread of the disease.

Most of the anti-Ebola material aid the 10 countries have received comes from China. China has also offered assistance in cash to international and regional organizations such as the UN, World Health Organization and African Union, supporting them in playing a leading and coordinating role against Ebola. 

China's assistance is both comprehensive and pragmatic. China offers most needed assistance to recipient countries, and such assistance keeps growing with the evolvement of the situation. The assistance includes hard forms such as material, food, cash, mobile laboratory and treatment center, as well as soft forms such as testing and treatment, experience sharing, briefing and training and joint research offered by medical staff and public health experts. China is the only country in the world whose assistance has been so comprehensive and enriching.

Chinese businesses have also joined the government in helping Africa. Most Chinese businesses in the epidemic countries stay there to continue their production, supporting those countries with their real contribution to their economic development, which is in sharp contrast with some Western businesses that have fled away in the face of the epidemic.

The projects undertaken by Chinese businesses in Guinea, including municipal roads, telecommunication and hydro stations, all progress on time without delay, playing an important role for maintaining economic and social stability in Guinea.

Moreover, dozens of Chinese businesses and chambers of commerce in the three epidemic countries contributed nearly $1 million of cash, food and material to support local governments and communities to fight Ebola, fulfilling their social responsibilities. Not long ago, the National Development Bank hosted a donation ceremony in Beijing, donating through its China-Africa Cooperation Fund $150,000 to each of the three West African countries.

It is not difficult to see that China has made its utmost efforts to help its African brothers to fight Ebola. There has been assistance provided by the Chinese government and support from the Chinese businesses, including material aid and spiritual encouragement, hard assistance as well as soft assistance.

China's overall involvement in and comprehensive input to the entire process has not only boosted the confidence of the governments and peoples of Ebola-affected countries, but also mobilized the international community to join in the efforts, providing an inexhaustible dynamism for affected countries and the international community to defeat the epidemic.

The author is an observer of international affairs based in Beijing. opinion@globaltimes.com.cn