Dominica is China’s true friend in the fight against novel coronavirus

Luo Song Tao Charge D’affaires of the Chinese Embassy

Currently,China is making all-out efforts to fight the novel coronavirus outbreak. Under the direct leadership of President Xi Jinping, China has put in place a nationwide prevention and control mechanism and taken the most
comprehensive and rigorous measures to contain and mitigate the outbreak, many of them go well beyond the requirements of the International Health Regulations. All of China is in action, sparing no effort to save lives and curb the spread of the virus. A total of 66.74 billion RMB yuan ( about 9.6 billion US dollars) were earmarked as special funds for epidemic prevention and control. About 11,921 Medical personnel from other provinces have arrived in Hubei province. Two new hospitals together with 2600 beds were built in 10 days and put into use in Wuhan, capital of Hubei province and epicenter of the outbreak. China also postponed the start of schools and businesses and suspended the group tours abroad by travel agencies. By doing so, China is not only protecting the health of its people, but also that of people around the world.

The situation remains challenging with remaining 37,626 confirmed cases and 21,675 suspected cases as of 10 Feb. But with China’s institutional advantages and previous useful experience, and with the strong scientific, technological and material foundation accumulated over the past 70 years, we have full determination, confidence and capability to win this fight against the epidemic. The measures taken by China are showing positive effects. Since 4 Feb, the number of newly reported confirmed cases excluding Hubei has been declining for seven days running(731, 707, 696, 558,509,444 and 381 respectively for each consecutive day since Feb 4) or 50% fall in one week. As of 10 Feb, a total of 3,996 people have been cured and discharged from hospital, far exceeding the mortality of 1016. With strict measures controlling the movement of people, the momentum of the spread of virus is being curbed. All these encouraging developments show that the epidemic is preventable, controllable and curable.

China has also been conducting international cooperation in an open, transparent and responsible manner. We have released information to WHO and relevant countries, identified the pathogen and shared genetic sequence of the virus in a record-short time. President Xi Jinping met WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros and invited WHO experts to conduct field visits in Wuhan. Foreign Minister Wang Yi had telephone conversations with his foreign counterparts, keeping close communication on the situation. I myself called on Dr. Hon. Kenneth Darroux, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Hon. Dr. Irving McIntyre, Minister of Health on 3 Feb to establish a contact group between the Chinese Embassy and the Ministry of Health to enhance coordination. We attach great importance to the safety of foreign nationals including Dominicans in China as much as about our own citizens, work hard to address their difficulties and ensure their safety.

A friend in need is a friend indeed. Under current circumstances, solidarity is what the world needs, as the WHO Director-General Tedros said, “the only way we defeat this outbreak is for all countries to work together in a spirit of solidarity and cooperation. The UN Secretary General and WHO Director-General and Leaders of many countries have applauded China’s forceful measures and expressed confidence in the ability of the Chinese government to prevail over the epidemic. Dominica has again proved to be a true friend of China. In the wake of the unexpected outbreak of the novel coronavirus, President Charles Savarin spoke highly of China’s actions in a parliament address and Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit sent a letter to Chinese Premier Li Keqiang to express full support and solidarity with China on behalf of the Dominican Government and people. The Opposition leadership also called Chinese Embassy to express confidence on China’s efforts to control the epidemic. We appreciate the Dominica government adopted a responsible attitude and respected the professional recommendations of WHO which made it clear about its opposition to travel or trade restrictions against China. My gratitude also goes to all Dominican people especially the Dominican students who remain in china for standing with the Chinese people in this difficult times.

As Foreign Minister Dr. Hon. Kenneth Darroux said, ”We (Dominica and China) are NOT fair-weather friends”. I cannot agree more. Absolutely, we are all-weather friends. We call on other countries to follow the example of Dominica to evaluate the outbreak in an objective and rational manner, support for and work together with China to jointly combat our common enemy and to safeguard global public health security.

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10 Comments

  1. BMB
    February 12, 2020

    Garçon you just making yourself pass like an a$$. Dominica can assist China in its fight against Novel Coronavirus? A virus that has now spread to countries with specialized physicians and equipment? Words are a powerful thing you know. How such a ‘dotish’ statement can embarrass an entire nation.

  2. viewsexpressed
    February 12, 2020

    “Currently,China is making all-out efforts to fight the novel coronavirus outbreak. Under the direct leadership of President Xi Jinping, China has put in place a nationwide prevention and control mechanism and taken the most”
    That’s commendable. We however want to see “efforts” for the respect of the Chinese people under this one party, ruthless Chinese government. We are a democracy in Dominica where Human Rights is honoured, practised and respected. We have a serious issue aligned to China, which is sad, but the abuse, restriction of speech and movement and to challenge the ruthlessness of the Chinese communist government is not doing well as the Chinese people are restricted by this brutal Chinese communist ruthless government. Most people, if not all are in fear of being detained because they do not show allegiance to this communist regime. China please wake up, it is 2020 and respect all of your people please. Dominica/China wants to be good friends with Rights for all…

  3. As I see it
    February 11, 2020

    Dominica is in the first five countries of the world with Cancer related deaths, first five in the world with hypertension and high blood sugar related deaths, maybe first three countries in the world with disabilities whether is missing a leg or both legs, missing toes or eyes etc, so much so that in addition to the Minister of health Skerrit was forced to create a special Minister of Disabilities in Dr. King, and the ambassador saying Dominica will help them fight coronavirus? With what sir? How will we help? I hope you not implying that Skerrit will move sick Chinese to Dominica to help get rid of locals faster?

  4. Shaka zulu
    February 11, 2020

    “accumulated over the past 70 years,” from thieving intellectual property.

    I am tired of all this China As…. kissing and this China relations crap. Black people need to loom within themselves to use their darn brains and resources do things for themselves. If not the white man is the yellow man. When will we be proud to have good relationship with the black man. These folks been interfering in our elections and affairs. We need to stop looking for saviours and start saving our freaking selves. Darn it. To hell with China and their oppressive political system. A country that stiffles christians and freedoms. Black people tired sell their sould for pittance.

  5. Ideal
    February 11, 2020

    “Dominica is China’s true friend in the fight against novel coronavirus”. Dominica can’t even fight the sickness they have in DA. How are they helping the Chinese to fight the coronavirus?

    • African Dominican
      February 11, 2020

      what he means, let us say for example: you get a contagious sickness(God forbid) and your two main padnas Pat n Patat who you know from long pants. You would always help them whenever they ask. They know you sick. Patat decide he fraid he get that sickness. So youself never see his vizyon… But Pat checking, though he not a Dr and couldnt help, the least he did was keep calling you, checking on you, he even come in d hospital to see you but DRs tell him no its not safe. So while you there you really see who from d two is your real padna..
      That is pretty much what Mr. Songtao is saying. you check me!

    • Da Girl
      February 12, 2020

      I’m sure you saw that the article mentioned that both government and opposition sides called to express support for China’s efforts in fighting the disease. Nowhere did it say that Dominica was literally helping China to fight it – What Dominica can do and is doing, like all other countries is to control its border, conduct screening and testing, train persons- and that in itself is actually fighting. The article is just about Dominica standing in solidarity with China. You all so blinded by politics and vexation you can’t even read anything without seeing politics like punctuation marks in the document.

  6. Ras B
    February 11, 2020

    The genome sequence of the Coronavirus isolated from Pangolin is 90% identical to the genome sequence of the coronavirus isolated from infected individuals.

  7. Ras B
    February 11, 2020

    “Dominica is China’s true friend in the fight against novel coronavirus”: What does this really mean? Dominica has done absolutely nothing, nor are they in a position to do anything, apart from putting its people at risk.

    There has been no mention about the intermediate carrier The Pangolin, thought to be the source of the outbreak. We know that this animal’s scales are used in China and elsewhere for medicinal purposes, it sells at £3000 per Kg of scales and the meat is used by wealthy personnel; the foetuses is served over wine and soups and is used as an aphrodisiac. The genome for the coronavirus is 90% identical to the genome of the coronavirus isolated from infected individuals. For the Chinese ambassador to beat up his chest and suggest that they are winning the battle may be less than honest. The simple question is why did the whistleblower doctor die? Further question is why is their a patent for this virus in the good ole USA?

  8. Rosie/ Puerto friend
    February 11, 2020

    As for I have never been a friend of communist China never will I ever be their friend. I don’t hate Chinese the people but I don’t like China the Socialist country. China destroyed our pillars we once had in Dominica and I must say they made Dominica a far worse country than what they met. China and Skerrit destroyed Dominica for good boy. Ask Rosie and Pierro

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