‘Coronavirus is enemy not Chinese’

BEIJING: The real enemy is not the Chinese people but the novel coronavirus, said Yao Fei, the minister counsellor of the Chinese Embassy in Madrid, at a press conference.

The conference was called to help spread a message of calm over the virus, which has so far claimed over 400 lives after originating in the central Chinese city of Wuhan.

Fears of the outbreak have led to a rise in discrimination against some people of Chinese origin in Spain and elsewhere in Europe, Yao said.

“The enemy is the virus, not the Chinese,” he added, saying that both China and its nationals were working tirelessly to contain the spread of the epidemic, which has infected more than 20,000 people.

“All Chinese people in China and out are working together in this historic struggle that we have against the coronavirus,” Yao said.

The number of people who have recovered from the virus now exceeds that of fatalities, he said, adding that the Chinese government has been working with complete “transparency.”

“We have the determination, the confidence and the capacity to win the battle against the coronavirus,” he stressed, thanking Spain and other countries for their “significant, enormous and valuable support to China, which is something we value greatly.”

In related dvelopment, Vice Premier Hu Chunhua has called for greater efforts to ensure supply of agricultural products and strengthen epidemic prevention and control of the novel coronavirus in rural areas.

Hu, also chief of the State Council leading group of poverty alleviation and development, made the remarks during a video teleconference Wednesday.

Migrant workers’ returning to work will be well-organized and nearby entrepreneurship and employment were encouraged, Hu said.

Efforts shall be made to strengthen the production and supply of vegetables, meat, eggs and milk, grain and other daily necessities, as well as keeping the supply channels unblocked, he said.

Hu also called for solid preparations for spring ploughing and striving to achieve a bumper harvest of grain throughout the year.

Stressing the need to restore hog production as soon as possible, Hu called for enhanced efforts to prevent animal infectious diseases and prompt response to new outbreaks.