Brothers in arms

China and Botswana are demonstrating the solidarity and cooperation needed to defeat the novel coronavirus

The novel coronavirus outbreak is now accelerating across the African continent, with confirmed cases in the vast majority of African countries and clusters of cases and community transmission in many places, putting further strain on already fragile public health systems. Botswana has reported 23 confirmed cases with 1 fatality since March 30, 2020. In spite of the recent 10 recoveries, the risk of community transmission cannot be completely ruled out yet.

Over the past three months, China has waged a "people's war" against the outbreak, fought hard and made great sacrifices to bring the outbreak under control domestically. China is fully aware of the difficulties in fighting the pandemic and shares the pain of Africa and its people. We will not forget that leaders in Africa, the African Union and the Southern African Development Community sent their condolences and support to the Chinese leaders during China's most difficult time. Friendly people from all walks of life in Africa also actively expressed support for China when we were battling the virus, which reflects the deep friendship between China and Africa.

In Botswana, President Mokgweetsi Masisi, Vice-President Slumber Tsogwane, Foreign Minister Unity Dow, Minister of Health and Wellness Lemogang Kwape, Speaker of the National Assembly Phandu Skelemani and Secretary General of the ruling Botswana Democratic Party Mpho Balopi all sent letters and messages of condolences to the Chinese people and expressed solidarity and appreciation for China's anti-pandemic measures. Every day, local netizens gave thumbs-up or posted messages on the embassy's Facebook page and my personal Twitter account, expressing their confidence in China's victory over the pandemic. Students at the Confucius Institute at the University of Botswana shouted "Stay Strong, Wuhan!" in Chinese. We will always remember and cherish this friendship. Now we are sincerely returning their kindness and going through the difficulties with them.

Despite the arduous task of fighting the pandemic, China has actively shared its experience in fighting the pandemic with Africa, provided anti-pandemic materials to Africa, and supported the anti-pandemic efforts of African countries with concrete actions. President Xi Jinping has spoken with Egyptian President Abdul Fatah Al-Sisi, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, Namibian President Hage Geingob and other African leaders on the phone to express condolences and support, and he called on the international community to increase assistance to Africa during the Extraordinary G20 Leaders' Summit on March 26.

China has done its best to provide many African countries and the African Union with batches of urgently needed supplies, held videoconferences with African countries to exchange information and experience on pandemic prevention and control, and sent medical teams to Ethiopia and Burkina Faso. Some Chinese local governments, enterprises and private institutions have also taken action to donate materials to African countries.

Up to now, the Chinese government has provided Botswana with the first batch of emergency pandemic prevention materials such as masks, protective suits and forehead thermometers. The second batch of materials in much larger quantities is also on the way. Meanwhile, Chinese health experts and experts from relevant fields held a four-hour videoconference to introduce China's experience in fighting the pandemic to Botswana.

Chinese companies are also leading the way. The Jack Ma Foundation and the Alibaba Foundation donated two batches of protective equipment, including more than 110,000 masks, nearly 40,000 test kits, 5,000 pieces of protective suits, along with medical supplies such as ventilators, medical gloves and thermographs. The overseas Chinese in Botswana also took the initiative to donate a large amount of money and materials to the local pandemic relief funds and local communities.

The Chinese embassy is still strengthening communication with the Chinese government and relevant enterprises, and will do its utmost to support Botswana in its fight against the pandemic, including coordinating more protection and medical supplies, and sharing in-depth experience in fighting the pandemic, so as to make positive contributions to safeguarding the health and safety of the people and the overseas Chinese in Botswana.

At the same time, the Chinese government has provided medical and care services to over 300 Botswanan nationals in China, including 21 students in Wuhan, capital of Hubei province. And Chinese citizens in Botswana have been cooperating with local government's testing measures and undertaking voluntary isolation for 14 days. There has been no infection among the Chinese living in Botswana.

In the face of the outbreak, the Botswanan government, like the Chinese government, has put people first and attached great importance to the prevention and control of the pandemic. Every day I get a text message from the Botswanan Ministry of Health and Wellness saying, "Please follow the rules to stay at home, to protect you and your loved ones." I was particularly moved by the fact that the people of Botswana, who are very sociable by nature, followed the advice of pandemic prevention experts and voluntarily isolated themselves at home. This demonstrates the core elements in the fight against the pandemic－science and unity. Indeed, in the face of a pandemic, political manipulation and recriminations that do not respect facts and science only make things worse.

The pandemic once again proves that humanity is a community with a shared future. Pandemics like this happened before, are happening now and will happen again. In 2014, after the outbreak of Ebola in three West African countries, the Chinese government took the lead in helping African countries and people fight the pandemic. As the Chinese ambassador to Sierra Leone at that time, I had the honor to coordinate and command the joint fight against the pandemic, and witnessed the profound brotherhood between China and Africa.

China and Africa are standing firmly together during the current pandemic. China will continue to cooperate with African countries, including Botswana, to strengthen cooperation on pandemic prevention and control, provide assistance within our capacity, firmly safeguard the lives, health and security of the two peoples, and work together to build an even closer China-Africa community with a shared future.

The author is the Chinese ambassador to Botswana. The author contributed this article to China Watch, a think tank powered by China Daily. The views do not necessarily reflect those of China Daily.