South African officials and Chinese Ambassador to South Africa Lin Songtian at a ceremony of mask donation to China on February 2 (CNSPHOTO)

In January 2020, just before the Chinese Lunar New Year, the outbreak of novel coronavirus pneumonia epidemic, later named by the World Health Organization (WHO) as COVID-19, raged in Wuhan, capital of central China's Hubei Province. As of February 17, more than 70,000 people have been diagnosed with the virus in China.

While the number continues to mount, all Chinese people are convinced that the difficulties are temporary, and victory over the virus is certain. To this end, Chinese Government and people are united in their efforts to win this anti-epidemic war.

At the same time, many countries have reached out to China to help through the difficulties. Many African countries' governments, political leaders, enterprises and individuals have expressed their support for China in different ways.

Timely aid

In the late night of February 2, an Air Algerie plane landed in Wuhan, and then unloaded medical supplies from Algeria from its cargo hold. Algeria was one of the first batch of countries to donate epidemic prevention and control supplies to China. Algeria not only has a traditional friendly relationship with China, but also an indissoluble relationship with the province of Hubei.

In the 1960s, Algeria faced a shortage of medical workers after its independence. China was the first country in the world to announce the dispatch of medical teams to Algeria. Since 1963, more than 3,000 medical personnel from Hubei have assisted the country. Their superb medical skills and professional ethics have won high praise from the Algerian Government and people.

"We pay close attention to the situation in China and express solidarity with China on behalf of the Algerian Government and people," Ahcene Boukhelfa, Algerian Ambassador to China, told People's Daily. "Algeria will stand with China, especially Wuhan, at this difficult time."

He said that many Algerian people are deeply attached to Hubei and believe that Hubei can get through the difficult period. "We are very confident about the prevention and control measures taken by the Chinese Government and we hope the outbreak will ease as soon as possible," he said.

On February 5, Ishmael Ashitey, Greater Accra Regional Minister, on behalf of the Ghanaian Government, donated 10,000 N95 masks to Wuhan.

The minister, speaking at a brief ceremony at the Chinese Embassy to Ghana, commended the Chinese Government for efforts and measures put in place to efficiently deal with the difficult situation.

"I reaffirm support to the people of Wuhan and the Chinese people in general during this challenging period, and promise to stand by you as you ward off this threat," he said, noting that although the donation was small, it represented their sincere wish to the Chinese Government and people to overcome the epidemic at an early date.

On February 4, President of Equatorial Guinea, Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, chaired a cabinet meeting and decided that the government would donate $2 million to the Chinese Government to help combat the epidemic.

A spokesman of the Equatorial Guinean Government said that this represents the sincere condolences of their government and people to the Chinese Government and people, as well as the full solidarity with the Chinese side in the fight against the epidemic.

In the past 51 years since the independence of Equatorial Guinea, China has always stood with us. It is the friendship and cooperation with China that enabled Equatorial Guinea to overcome difficulties and achieve today's development. China is a strategic partner of Equatorial Guinea. The two countries have always shared weal and woe. Equatorial Guinea must not stand idly at the time of the outbreak of the epidemic in China.

In the late 1960s, Equatorial Guinea had low living standards, rampant disease and high death rates. Since the establishment of diplomatic ties between the two countries, Chinese medical teams have been sent to rescue sick people and aid schools, hospitals, electricity and other public facilities. To this end, many engineers and medical personnel have been laid to rest in Equatorial Guinea. This was also the starting point of the friendship between the two countries.

During the Wenchuan earthquake in southwest China's Sichuan Province in 2008, the president of Equatorial Guinea authorized the foreign minister to donate 1 million euros to support the people in the disaster area. In 2016, to commemorate the precious friendship, Equatorial Guinea donated China-Equatorial Guinea Friendship Primary School in southwest China's Yunnan Province.

Brett Lyndall Singh with his supervisor (WENZHOU MEDICAL UNIVERSITY)

Fighting together

Brett Lyndall Singh, a South African doctor in Wenzhou, east China's Zhejiang Province, has been in China for nine years. Determined to be a doctor since his childhood, he came to Wenzhou alone in 2011 and entered the School of International Studies of Wenzhou Medical University (WMU).

Now, Singh is a clinical clerk at the Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children's Hospital of WMU. At this critical moment in the fight against the epidemic, he gave up the opportunity to return to his motherland for the holiday and chose to stick with the Chinese people.

"I am a doctor and it is Wenzhou that made me who I am," Singh said. "Now the city needs me."

In addition to treating patients, Singh also publicized the measures to combat the virus, especially in Wenzhou, to the world through social media, where he has nearly 200,000 followers. He said the Wenzhou people didn't flinch, and each of them was fighting.

"There are some exaggerated and even false news on the Internet. What I can do is to tell them through my personal experience that China is coping well and Wenzhou is coping well," he added.

Support and kindness

Leaders of African international organizations and African countries spoke highly of China's efforts in fighting the outbreak in various ways and expressed support for China. Meanwhile, in response to the concerns, Chinese ambassadors to African countries have held press briefings to introduce the epidemic situation, China's efforts to prevent and control the epidemic and relevant measures, as well as its close communication and cooperation with the WHO and the international community.

Standard Bank in Africa launched the "Wear Red for China" activity; Tunisian children sent their blessings for the fight against the epidemic; and African students around the world cheered for Wuhan.

On the morning of February 6, children from 10 schools gathered on the small square where people usually play football in the Mathare slum in Kenya. They continuously shouted slogans like "Support China" and "Come on, Wuhan."

They set off from their own schools, carrying signs of blessing, while also letting more slum dwellers know more about the virus. Some of them wrote the blessing words on their hats, painted with heart signs and small handprints, and chanted the blessings.

Saraki, a kid from Casoupendo (meaning love in Swahili) Primary School, said: "I am sorry for the epidemic in China, and I am very grateful for all that the Chinese people have done. Come on, China!"

One of the teachers, Elizabeth, looked conspicuous in her lovely flower skirt. "China and Kenya are good friends," she said, adding, "We love China, and we support and stand with China."

The students also initiated fundraising, with many parents and teachers making donations.

It is reasonable to believe that after the epidemic, the friendship between Chinese and African people will further deepen and the China-Africa community with a shared future will be even closer.

(Comments to likzh@chinafrica.cn)