China’s diverse assistance to Africa produces real results on the ground

By Zhou Fei Source:Global Times Published: 2014-11-23 18:38:02

On August 11 when a special Chinese airplane fully loaded with anti-Ebola materials slowly touched down at the airport of Conakry, the capital city of Guinea, the people of the country were thrilled and the news spread fast among them.

This is just one episode of China using chartered airplanes to bring much needed supplies against Ebola to African countries. In fact since March, China has been doing the same to not only Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea, where Ebola is rampant, but also to their 10 neighboring countries of Ghana, Mali, Togo, Benin, DRC, the Republic of Congo, Nigeria, Cote d'Ivoire, Senegal and Guinea-Bissau.

Ebola casts a dark shadow over West Africa, and the three West African countries are facing a fatal threat. At such a critical juncture, the Chinese people, who have an agonizing memory of the SARS epidemic, feel the pain of the African people, immediately reach out their hands, and do their utmost to provide pragmatic help to their African brothers. 

Multiple rounds of pragmatic assistance have been sent to the Ebola-stricken areas. In April 2013, when Ebola just emerged, China immediately came up with material supplies worth 4 million yuan ($633,858) to help epidemic-hit West African countries.

In early August, when the epidemic worsened but had not yet attracted sufficient attention from the international community, China immediately sent the most needed supplies to the three worst-hit countries by rented chartered airplanes at the fastest possible speed, making it the first country to offer anti-Ebola materials to the three countries, and also serving as the first time in history for China to use chartered airplanes to assist Africa.

After that, China donated an advanced mobile laboratory for testing Ebola to Sierra Leone and built a fixed laboratory and observation center there, set up a 100-bed treatment center in Liberia and sent elite troops who participated in fighting against the SARS epidemic, all of which is something new in the history of China-Africa relations.

So far, China's total assistance on fighting Ebola has reached 750 million yuan, covering 13 African countries as well as international and regional organizations such as the UN, the World Health Organization and the African Union. Every penny of the assistance has been used on African friends, standing in sharp contrast against the Western countries which "talk more and do less."

China has been standing shoulder-to-shoulder with Africa in the fight against Ebola. Unlike some developed countries which upon the outbreak of the disease, withdrew diplomats, volunteers and businesses, and even publicly declared  that they could contribute money but not people, China, however, chooses to stay with the local people at the very forefront of the fight. Dozens of Chinese businesses and thousands of Chinese citizens in West Africa are staying on their jobs.

The ambassadors and diplomats of the Chinese embassies in the three West African nations have not left their posts. Over 400 Chinese peacekeeping troops to Liberia continue their mission there. The Chinese medical teams to the three countries have as usual been providing medical services to the local people. On top of that, China has sent more experts on epidemics and medical staff in formed units to those countries. At present, over 400 Chinese experts and medical staff are at the front line to fight Ebola. In the following months another roughly 1,000 Chinese experts and medical staff are expected to join the fight in West Africa.

China pursues active cooperation with the international community. China holds a positive and open attitude toward international cooperation in fighting Ebola. The Chinese medical staff on the ground maintain good communication with their international counterparts to share experience and support each other.

Since August, China has offered sustained assistance in the form of food, ambulances, mobile laboratories and the medical experts and staff, the very things people in the epidemic-affected countries are in dire need of, and the things which China has sent one batch of after another.

Statistics show that two thirds of the anti-Ebola supplies Guinea has received come from China. Almost all the medical supplies from the 10 African countries near the worst-stricken area come from China. 

It is easier for friends to share happy moments than to go through difficulties together. In face of unexpected disasters, China demonstrates with its real actions and its sincerity to remain a reliable friend and sincere partner to Africa forever.

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



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