Stronger Together
风雨同舟，开创中瓦关系更美好的未来
Ambassador Zhou Haicheng’s Article on China-Vanuatu Cooperation Against COVID-19
驻瓦努阿图大使周海成在瓦媒体发表署名文章
June 16 2020
2020年6月16日
The COVID-19 global pandemic is the most extensive to afflict humanity in a century. It poses a grave threat to human life and health.
新型冠状病毒肺炎是近百年来人类遭遇的影响范围最广的全球性大流行病，给世界各国人民的生命安全和健康造成重大威胁。
The virus does not respect borders. Nor is race or nationality relevant in the face of the disease. In the fight against COVID-19, China and Vanuatu have looked out for each other and battled the virus together, demonstrating a strong brotherhood and setting a model for joint pandemic response.
病毒没有国界，疫病不分种族。在这场抗疫斗争中，中国和瓦努阿图守望相助、同舟共济，体现了患难与共的兄弟情谊，树立了国与国之间同心抗疫的典范。
At the time when the situation in China was at its most difficult, the government and people of Vanuatu firmly supported China’s fight against COVID-19. Prime Minister Bob Loughman, former Prime Minister Charlot Salwai and other Vanuatu leaders expressed deep condolences to the Chinese government and people. They highly commended China’s prevention and control efforts and the notable success achieved. They openly opposed discrimination and xenophobia in responding to COVID-19. The Vanuatu government overcame its fiscal strains and donated 10 million Vatu to China, which was the first donation to China in the name of a national government among Pacific island countries. Shefa province, Port Vila municipality, Luganville municipality, Vanuatu-China Friendship Association, Vanuatu Tourism Office, Air Vanuatu and Vanuatu students made videos to cheer China up. China highly appreciates the valuable support from Vanuatu, which will always be remembered.
在中国疫情防控形势最艰难的时候，瓦努阿图政府和社会各界坚定支持中国开展疫情防控工作，拉夫曼总理、萨尔维前总理等多位政要向中方表达慰问，高度肯定中国抗疫举措和积极成效，旗帜鲜明地反对与疫情相关的歧视性言论和排外行为。瓦政府克服财政困难，向中国提供了援助，成为太平洋岛国地区首个以政府名义向中国提供援助的国家。谢法省政府、维拉港市政府、卢甘维尔市政府和瓦中友协、瓦旅游办公室、瓦努阿图航空、瓦大中小学生等分别录制短视频，为中方加油鼓劲。对于瓦方的支持和帮助，中方深表感谢，铭记于心。
We Chinese believe in reciprocating goodwill and generosity. As COVID-19 spreads across the world, Vanuatu also faces grave challenges. TC Harold and the volcano ash fall on Tanna Island have dealt extra blow to Vanuatu. China relates to what Vanuatu is going through. China’s central government, Guangdong province, Foshan city, Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, the Chinese community in Vanuatu and CCECC have pulled together to help Vanuatu. We have provided timely assistance amounting to over 150 million Vatu to meet the immediate needs of the Vanuatu government and people. These include cash, large numbers of face masks, protective suits and other PPE, ventilators, blood gas analyzers and other ICU equipment, coronavirus testing kits, isolation wards and laboratory, boats, iron roofs, solar lights, food and other disaster relief assistance, etc. In addition, three advanced customs inspection systems have recently been officially handed over to the Vanuatu government, which will serve to upgrade Vanuatu’s boarder control capability. China invited Vanuatu to participate in the Vice Ministers’ Special Meeting and the Health Experts Video Conference on COVID-19 between China and Pacific island countries to share prevention, containment, diagnosis and treatment experience, build consensus and discuss how to strengthen anti-pandemic cooperation. The Chinese embassy continues providing the latest information and diagnosis and treatment protocols on COVID-19 to Vanuatu, especially NDMO, relevant ministries and departments, and media outlets. The two Chinese medical teams based in Port Vila and Luganville respectively are working side by side with their Vanuatu colleagues at the frontline against COVID-19. China has also rendered assistance to over 100 Vanuatu students studying in China and helped address their concerns and needs. China has quickly acted upon the G20 Debt Service Suspension Initiative and decided to suspend Vanuatu’s loan repayments to China in order to support Vanuatu’s economic and social development in this trying time.
中华民族是懂得感恩的民族。随着疫情在全球扩散蔓延，瓦努阿图防疫形势十分严峻。更不幸的是，瓦努阿图又遭受了“哈罗德”飓风和塔纳岛火山灰倾泻等灾害。中方对瓦方困难感同身受，投桃报李，迅速向瓦方提供援助，包括大量抗疫和救灾物资，助瓦方解决燃眉之急。中国政府、广东省、佛山市、全国对外友协、旅瓦华侨华人、中国土木工程集团等企业均参与其中。不久前，中方援瓦海关检测设备正式移交，相信这将有力促进瓦方提高边境管控能力。中方邀请瓦方参加中国与太平洋岛国应对疫情副外长级特别会议和卫生专家视频会，分享防控和诊疗经验，凝聚抗疫共识，探讨加强疫情防控等领域合作。中国驻瓦使馆持续向瓦政府特别是国家灾害管理办公室及成员部门和媒体提供疫情相关信息和防控诊疗方案。常驻在维拉港和卢甘维尔的两支中国医疗队与瓦努阿图同行携手并肩，共同奋战在抗疫前沿。中方积极做好100余名瓦在华留学生疫情防控和生活学习保障工作，帮助他们解决合理关切和需求。中方积极落实二十国集团暂缓最贫困国家债务偿付的倡议，决定暂停瓦努阿图对华债务偿还,以支持瓦经济社会可持续发展，帮助瓦方渡过难关。
It is gratifying to see that Vanuatu remains coronavirus free, thanks to the efforts of the Vanuatu government and people, and the assistance from China and other partners. This constitutes a great contribution to regional COVID-19 response and a good example for other countries.
我们高兴地看到，在瓦努阿图政府和人民的努力下，在中国等各发展伙伴的帮助下,瓦迄今无确诊病例，为本地区抗疫斗争做出了重要贡献，在世界上树立了疫情防控的榜样。
The virus is still raging, and more must be done to bring it under control. Development needs and people’s livelihood in various countries must be attended to. Guided by the vision of a community with a shared future for mankind, China wishes to step up collaboration with Vanuatu to get prepared for a long fight against COVID-19, safeguard public health security, enhance economic and social development, and promote the ever-growing China-Vanuatu Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
当前，疫情仍在全球肆虐，防控仍需共同努力。同时,经济发展任重道远，民生需求不可忽视。中方将继续秉持人类共同体理念，与瓦方一道，着眼长远、未雨绸缪、加强合作，做好疫情长期化和防控常态化的准备，共同维护和促进公共卫生安全与经济社会发展，推动中瓦全面战略伙伴关系行稳致远。
Strengthen policy alignment. The Vanuatu government has released its policy directions for the next four years. China will keep close communication and increase policy coordination with Vanuatu over post-COVID-19 era pragmatic cooperation, focusing on productive sectors, infrastructure, public health, education and training that hold the key to promoting Vanuatu’s resilience and sustainable development.
第一，加强政策协调。瓦努阿图政府已分别出台当前及未来4年的优先政策规划。中方愿与瓦方保持密切沟通，强化政策对接，聚焦生产部门、基础设施、公共卫生、教育培训等有助于提升瓦国家韧性和可持续发展能力的领域，统筹谋划“后疫情时代”中瓦各领域务实合作。
Advance cooperation in pandemic prevention and control. China will continue helping Vanuatu improve its public health system and preparedness, tapping into the potential of cooperation in medical care and traditional Chinese medicine. China will provide US$2 billion over two years to help with COVID-19 response and with economic and social development in affected countries, especially developing countries. We are ready to discuss with Vanuatu bilateral programs under this framework. China’s Guangdong province will provide more medical supplies to Vanuatu, including PPE.
第二，推进防控合作。中国将继续帮助瓦方强化公共卫生体系和提高应对能力，共同挖掘在医疗卫生、中医药等领域合作潜力。中方已宣布提供国际援助，用于支持发展中国家抗疫斗争和经济社会恢复发展，愿在此框架下与瓦方商定具体双边项目。近期，广东省将再向瓦方提供一批包括个人防护用品在内的防疫物资。
Ensure progress of major projects. Such bilateral projects as the on-going Phase II of Tanna and Malekula Road Project, the Pentacost Road and Jetty Project being designed, and the vehicles project under discussion are all of great significance to disaster relief efforts and long-term development of Vanuatu. While keeping people safe from COVID-19, we need to facilitate movements of necessary materials and personnel to guarantee progress of those projects in order to minimize the impact of COVID-19.
第三，保障重点项目。正在建设的塔纳—马勒库拉公路二期、正在设计的彭特考斯特岛公路和小码头、商谈中的交通运输工具等项目，均对瓦人道救灾和长远发展具有重大意义。两国要在确保防疫安全前提下，尽早实现有关重点合作项目所需人员、物资顺畅往来，将疫情的影响降到最低。
Expand economic and trade cooperation. China will continue to encourage capable Chinese enterprises to invest in Vanuatu. China stands ready to strengthen mutually beneficial cooperation with Vanuatu in extensive areas such as trade, transportation, agriculture, fisheries and tourism, and contribute to Vanuatu’s early graduation from Least Developed Countries category.
第四，扩大经贸合作。中方将继续鼓励有实力的中国企业来瓦投资兴业，在共建“一带一路”框架内加强贸易和投资、农渔、旅游等广泛领域合作，做大共同利益蛋糕，助力瓦早日脱离“最不发达国家”之列。
Deepen educational exchanges. Education is the foundation for building a country. To meet Vanuatu’s aspiration and needs, the Chinese side will do its utmost to facilitate the discussion between Vanuatu and Chinese partners on building a Confucius institute here and Chinese language teaching in Vanuatu schools. We will keep providing Chinese Government Scholarships to outstanding Ni-Van students and inviting Vanuatu friends to participate in training programs to help with Vanuatu’s capacity building, nurturing more “pillars” for Vanuatu’s future development and more envoys of the China-Vanuatu friendship.
第五，深化教育交流。教育是立国之本。中方将根据瓦方愿望和需求，为瓦有关学校与中方合作伙伴探讨共建孔子学院和开展汉语教学提供积极支持和帮助。我们将继续向瓦优秀学子提供中国政府奖学金，邀请瓦各界朋友参加中方举办的各类培训，帮助瓦方加强能力建设，培育更多瓦国家发展的栋梁之才和促进中瓦关系发展的友好使者。
The darkest hour will pass. Looking ahead, we can see twilight and hope. I am confident that after this pandemic, the China-Vanuatu friendship will be stronger than ever before and our bilateral relationship will yield more fruitful results.
至暗时刻终将过去，胜利曙光就在前方。经此一役，中瓦友谊必将更加牢固深厚，中瓦关系必将更加成果丰硕。