Author: Imad Freij

RAMALLAH, Monday, March 30, 2020 (WAFA) – The Chinese ambassador to Palestine Guo Wei stated that, following an official Palestinian request, his country was exploring the possibility of dispatching a medical team to Palestine to help Palestinian medics address the novel coronavirus.

In a phone interview with the Palestinian News & Information Agency (WAFA), Guo added that a meeting was held between Chinese medical experts and Palestinian doctors during the weekend between via video-conferencing with the attendance of Palestinian Health Minister al-Kaileh. The purpose was to showcase the China’s medical experience in combating, preventing and stemming the spread of the coronavirus pandemic.

He pointed out that such a meeting would be held periodically and that China would provide the Palestinian Health Ministry with medical and technical information and video materials to help it deal with patients infected with the virus.

He affirmed that the China’s planeload of government and non-government medical aid is now ready to be delivered to Palestine as soon as possible with constant follow-up from the Chinese Representative Office to Palestine.

The Chinese diplomat stressed that this medical aid reflects the deep-rooted bilateral Chinese-Palestinian relations, and affirmed that his country stands by Palestine in confronting the deadly virus and would do its utmost to ensure that Palestine ultimately triumph over the virus.

Drawing on the experience of his country in controlling the spread of coronavirus, he said that the key to the Chinese people’s triumph over the virus is full voluntary commitment to home quarantine, social distancing, discipline, and personal and public hygiene.  

He noted that medical specialists so forth have not accurately determined of this virus, and that there was no vaccine or a medicine to cure it, and called on the Palestinian people to cooperate with the government and comply with the relevant instructions and guidelines to help reduce the spread of the pandemic.

The Chinese diplomat expressed his gratitude to the Palestinian leadership and government for their unwavering solidarity with the Chinese people. He thanked President Mahmoud Abbas, Premier Mohammad Shtayyeh, Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Minister Riyad al-Malki and al-Kaileh for their messages of solidarity with the Chinese people in the battle against the coronavirus pandemic.

He noted that China has scored victory in the first phase of its battle against the virus following two-month-long efforts to combat the pandemic, and warned of a possible risk of second wave of worldwide infections, particularly in China.

He noted that they are still in a pressing need for solidarity from all countries, including Palestine.

On a related matter, the Chinese diplomat voiced his admiration of the Palestinian government’s performance in combating the pandemic, as well as his full confidence that the Palestinian people, under its judicious leadership, would defeat this pandemic and emerge stronger from this crisis.

He expressed his appreciation of the efforts exerted by Palestinian media outlets in general and WAFA in particular aimed to raise Palestinian citizens’ awareness of the importance of home quarantine and compliance with the government and Health Ministry’s instructions and guidelines. He applauded their role as important and positive in combating the pandemic.    

The number of cases who tested positive for the coronavirus in China recently dropped significantly, and stood at 81,000 cases, including over 75,000 cases who recovered and 2,500 others who are still under health follow-up, while the death toll stood at 3,304.

K.F.