If Winter Comes, Can Spring Be Far Behind?
冬天来了，春天还会远吗？
Chinese Ambassador to Namibia, H.E. Zhang Yiming’s Signed Article
驻纳米比亚大使张益明发表署名文章
24 February 2020
2020年2月24日
A few days before the Chinese Spring Festival of 2020, a sudden outbreak of novel coronavirus pneumonia (NCP, or COVID-19) emerged in Wuhan, the capital city of Hubei Province of China and spread to the whole nation. Under the leadership of President Xi Jinping, the Chinese government promptly established a national framework of comprehensive and inter-agency response, and took the most comprehensive, stringent and thorough measures to contain epidemic. Over 20,000 healthcare workers and 100 plus medical teams converged in Hubei, the hardest-hit province, from across the nation to support epidemic control. Several thousand engineers and workers worked around the clock and completed two specialized hospitals equipped with 2,500 beds in less than 15 days. Through these arduous efforts, the epidemic is generally under control now. Until 19 February, outside Hubei, the number of confirmed cases had recorded a 15-day consecutive drop and many provinces did not record new infections. The number of cured cases across the nation came near 15,000 and scientists and researchers are working day and night to find the cure. Dawn is breaking and the light is coming through. We have full confidence, capacity, and determination to win this “war without smoke”.
2020年春节前夕，一场突如其来的新冠肺炎疫情在中国湖北武汉爆发并迅速向全国蔓延。在习近平主席的坚强领导下，中国政府迅速建立起了联防联控机制，果断采取最全面、最严格、最彻底的举措迎击疫情。14亿中国人团结一心，一百多支医疗队、两万多名医护人员从全国各地奔赴疫情重灾区湖北，数千名工程人员通宵达旦，不到15天建成2500张床位的两所专业化医院。经过艰苦努力，疫情总体得到控制。截至2月19日，湖北以外地区确诊病例数量连续15天下降，多个省区新增感染数量为零，治愈出院病例将近15000人，科研人员也在争分夺秒研发治疗新冠病毒肺炎的药物。黎明的曙光就在眼前，我们完全有信心、有能力、也有把握彻底打赢这场没有硝烟的战争。
As a responsible major country, China always attaches the same importance to the health and safety of people from other countries as its own. From the start of the outbreak, the Chinese government has acted in an open and transparent manner in releasing relevant information to the world and seeking close cooperation with the World Health Organization (WHO). We have shared the genetic sequence of the virus with the world community and invited foreign experts to help. Also, we actively provide assistance and facilitation for foreigners living in China. To date, confirmed cases outside China account for less than one percent of the world’s total, which means China has effectively curbed the spread of the outbreak beyond its borders and made great contribution to global public health. As WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said, China has paid huge efforts and even sacrifice in the fight against COVID-19 and thus bought time for the international community to response.
作为一个负责任大国，中国始终将世界各国人民健康置于与本国人民安危同等重要的位置。从疫情爆发之初，中国政府就秉持公开、透明原则及时向国际社会通报信息，分享病毒基因序列，与世卫组织密切合作，邀请国际专家并肩工作，积极为在华外国公民提供协助和便利。目前中国境外确诊病例数量不足总数的1%，可以说中国有效阻止了疫情向其他国家蔓延，为全球公共卫生安全做出了重要贡献。世卫组织总干事谭德赛称赞中国付出巨大代价和牺牲，为国际社会应对疫情赢得宝贵时间。
In regard of the epidemic prevention and control, Chinese and Namibian governments have been working closely and are on the same page. Since the outbreak, the Chinese Embassy in Namibia has shared timely information on the epidemic and discussed the responding measures with Namibia Ministry of International Relations and Cooperation, Ministry of Health and Social Services and WHO country representative’s office. China appreciates the scientific proper and effective precautions taken by the Namibian government. Considering the concerns of Namibian people, the Chinese Embassy in Namibia demanded all the 160 or so Chinese citizens who came to Namibia recently to conduct self-quarantine for 14 days at home and put themselves under supervision upon them one by one. Some other people who want to return to Namibia were also requested to postpone their agenda. All of the above measures show our responsible sense and care for Namibian people’s health. Meanwhile, the Chinese government pay attention to the safety of Namibia citizens in China by keeping in close touch with the Namibian Embassy in Beijing and working with universities and colleges to deal with the difficulties met by Namibians. As far as we know, even in Wuhan, the epicenter of the outbreak, all the 27 Namibia students have full access to daily food and household items, medical and prevention supplies as well as psychological counseling services. We are joining hands with Namibian friends and try our best to realize the target of zero infections in Namibia.
在疫情防控方面，中纳政府始终相互理解，相向而行。疫情爆发后，中国驻纳大使馆同纳国际关系与合作部、卫生与社会服务部、世卫组织驻纳代表处等保持密切沟通，及时通报疫情形势，共同商讨应对措施。纳政府以科学理性态度采取了适度防控举措，中方对此表示赞赏。考虑到纳公众的关切，中国大使馆要求所有近期返纳的约160名中国公民必须居家隔离14天，并逐一采取了有效的监督措施，其他回国人员尽量推迟返纳，体现了中方对纳米比亚人民健康负责任的态度。同时，中国政府也高度重视纳在华公民的健康和安全，与纳驻华使馆保持密切沟通，协调地方政府和高校积极解决纳在华公民困难。据了解，即使是在疫情中心武汉，27名纳留学生的生活饮食、防疫物资、心理疏导也都得到了有效保障。我们愿继续与纳方共同努力，力争在纳米比亚实现“零”感染目标。
Virus respects no borders while all human beings have compassion. Facing the virus, China is not fighting alone. The International community has given us valuable moral and material support. Until now, more than 160 countries and international organizations have sent letters or messages to express their sympathy, trust, and firm support. Many countries and institutions donated disease prevention goods to China. Just like China extended helping hands immediately after the outbreak of the Ebola virus in Africa, African brothers and sisters have also given us precious support when we are suffering. Some African countries donated cash and materials and some students from Zambia and Zimbabwe in China posted a warm song at social media to cheer up for China in the fight against the epidemic. President Hage Geingob was one of the first butch of African leaders to render sympathy to China. Some Namibian NGOs initiated activities to support Wuhan on social media and extended their sincere wishes. I also noticed that many ordinary Namibians attached encouraging messages on my Facebook page. Those kind deeds and benign words, full of shining humanity, manifesting the deep friendship between China and Africa, have moved me a lot. Chinese people worship a motto that “when receiving a favor, you should repay more than double”. That is why we will always remember and hold dear every inspiring word and every act of support.
病毒无国界，人间有真情。面对疫情，中国并不是孤军作战，国际社会也给予了我们宝贵的精神支持和物质援助。迄今，全球160多个国家和国际组织领导人专门发函致电对中国抗击疫情表达了同情、信任和支持，多国政府及国际组织向中方捐助疫情防控物资。正如中国在非洲爆发埃博拉疫情之际第一时间挺身而出一样，非洲兄弟也在中国陷入危难之际向我们提供宝贵支持。一些非洲国家向中方捐款捐物支持抗击疫情，赞比亚、津巴布韦的在华留学生自发用歌声为中国加油。根哥布总统是首批向中方致函表示慰问的非洲领导人之一，一些纳民间团体自发在社交媒体为武汉加油，不少纳民众在我脸书主页上留言为中国祈福。这些闪耀着人性光辉的善举良言令我十分感动，生动彰显了中纳、中非兄弟情谊。中国人讲究“滴水之恩，当涌泉相报”，对于纳米比亚朋友的每一句鼓励、每一份支持，我们都将铭记于心。
I also noticed a handful of extreme comments distorting facts and stirring up discrimination against Chinese citizens, which makes me very uncomfortable. A virus in mind is even worse than that an actual one in body. As WHO Chief Tedros said, “this is the time for facts, not fear. This is the time for science, not rumors. This is the time for solidarity, not stigma.” We sincerely hoped that at this very time, the international community could get rid of prejudice and discrepancy to respond to the epidemic in a rational and scientific way.
我也注意到当地社交媒体和网络上出现了个别歪曲事实、鼓动对中国公民歧视的偏激言论，我对此感到不安。思想上的病毒比新冠病毒更可怕。正如世卫组织总干事谭德塞所强调的，“这是一个需要事实而不是恐惧的时刻，是需要科学而不是谣言的时刻，是需要团结而不是羞辱的时刻。”真诚希望国际社会能够摒弃偏见和分歧，以理性、科学的态度认识和应对这场疫情。
The outbreak of COVID-19, declared as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) by WHO, is a severe test for the Chinese government and its people. On the other hand, it will inevitably strengthen China’s national governance capacity and advance the modernization of its governance system. As an old saying goes, every dark cloud has a silver lining. I firmly believe, with the joint efforts of Chinese people and the international community including Namibia, China is bound to defeat the epidemic and usher in a blooming and splendid Spring.
这起公共卫生突发事件对中国政府和人民是一次大考，必将进一步推动中国在国家治理能力和治理体系现代化方面更进一步。“每一朵乌云都镶有银边”（Every dark cloud has a silver lining），我坚信，在中国人民万众一心的努力下，在包括纳米比亚在内国际社会的大力支持下，中国必将战胜疫情，迎来惠风和畅、百花齐放的春天！