China's example shows world how to tackle a global scourge

When we celebrated the new year just a few months ago it now seems like another world, as we looked with confidence and hope to not only the dawning of a new year, but also the advent of a new decade, that little landmark which falls but once every 10 years, and marks a symbolic turning point from one era to another.

New decades normally see the arrival of new fashions or new tastes in popular music. We are just over three months into this new decade and, yes, it has seen the arrival of something new, and yes it has seen the arrival of a global phenomenon which is having a radical impact on economies, lifestyles and government.

But this arrival is totally unwelcome, the arrival of novel coronavirus pneumonia, whose first attack was staged in China and impressively beaten back thanks to the united and herculean efforts of the Chinese people.

And now people around the world are facing the spread of this scourge. They are, as an old school friend of mine who now lives in England, said "heading into the dark tunnel".

We were in that very same "dark tunnel" just a few weeks ago, as the number of cases was rocketing every day and many of us were wondering what journey of doom and misery this pestilence was taking us on.

The concerted effort of the people and the selfless efforts of countless medical workers have brought us out of that tunnel. And now many of China's selfless medical workers are heading to other parts of the world to help in the fight against this new menace of our era.

People and governments around the world have literally been "feeling their way" in recent weeks to determine the best way to fight and defeat the raging virus. Now is not the time to indulge in blame games or indulge in petty political point-scoring. Can anyone imagine the intense pressure that government leaders around the world are under right now?

But there is one thing they can be certain of, and that is China's unstinting solidarity and support. Also, China is in the unique position of having already taken on this scourge, and has tried and tested methods to tackle it, such as the construction of massive temporary hospitals for patients with mild symptoms in large exhibition and conference halls.

I was very heartened to see in recent days that among the countries taking similar steps now is my homeland, the United Kingdom.

The British people displayed great fortitude and courage during the dark days of World War II as bombs fell on their towns and the nation's young men went off to battle. Now the British people face similar "dark days", but if you always remember that, however dark and bleak it seems, there is always light at the end of tunnel, that will give you strength to see it through.