Miles apart, but close at heart. Ever since the outbreak of COVID-19, Wuhan University has received consolations from numerous universities, institutions and people in different countries and regions, including America, Canada, France, Britain, Germany, Russian, Belgium, Australia, New Zealand, Spain, Ireland, Egypt, Mali, Thailand, Japan, Singapore, Hong Kong(China), and Taiwan(China). They share close corporation and friendship with WHU. In the letters of consolation, they offered their supports to Chinese people in the fight against the virus, greetings to faculties and students of WHU in this city suffering the most, and their wishes for future cooperation and exchanges with WHU.
Relief Goods and Donations
Since the break of the epidemic, partner universities and institutions as well as numerous warm-hearted friends abroad have offered relief funds and supplies to WHU in support of battle against the virus.
Yukio Hatoyama, the former Japanese Prime Minister and an Honorary Professor of WHU, convened a meeting in Tokyo to discuss emergency response measures against COVID-19. He also initiated a China-Japan Belt and Road charity event to raise money and medical materials for Wuhan.
Deakin University, Australia, donated 30,000 medical gloves, 1,600 surgical gowns, 1,500 surgical masks and 200 medical safety goggles to the Hospital of Wuhan University via Hubei Charity Federation.
Professor Li Zhuoran, director of Wan Boo Sow Research Centre for Chinese Culture of National University of Singapore, collected 600,000 RMB with the help of local NGOs. Later, the fund was spent on medical masks and protective suits as a donation to hospitals in Wuhan City, involving those attached to WHU.
Fukushima Medical University, Japan, contributed 18 boxes of relief supplies in total to Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, including 20,000 masks and 150 protective suits. Those, together with other medical supplies that Chinese in Japan provided, arrived at Wuhan in a chartered flight.
Other overseas cooperation institutions and individuals giving a hand to WHU include Kaetsu University of Japan (a donation of 1,000 masks), Sophia University of Japan (financial assistance), Royal Thai Embassy in China (a donation of 500 medical gloves and 2 cases of N95 respirators) and Doctor Zhu Yunpeng the economics lecturer at College of Management of Taipei Medical University (a donation of 290 medical masks). The second batch offered by Kaetsu University, which contains four boxes of medical materials, is currently in transit.
Further Cooperation
Robert J. Zimmer, President of the University of Chicago, America: I am writing to express support for the University of Chicago’s relationship with Wuhan University. Although we temporarily closed our Center in Beijing, we are looking forward to resuming classes and programming there as soon as the health authorities have indicated it is appropriate to do so. I wanted you to know that we remain committed to our presence in China and to building on our existing partnerships and establishing new ones. At this time there are many contributions that research universities can and are making to their communities and I know our institutions are doing that during the current outbreak of the novel coronavirus. I value our connections to and collaborations with WHU and look forward to our future work together.
Letter from the University of Chicago
Harvard Medical School, the U.S.: Our school will not suspend the intended cooperation with Wuhan University. In fact, we seek to enhance our cooperation with WHU in the medical field, such as training on critical health care systems, accomplishing a clinical big data platform of critical illness, and undertaking the WHU-Harvard Tele-ICU project.
University of Alberta, Canada: I am writing to extend our support and consolation to Wuhan University. Challenged by the epidemic, medical scientists all over the world must stick together, and you have our back. Speaking of COVID-19, our researchers have conducted rounds of vaccine testing, and are developing effective drugs. We would like to collaborate with WHU in this domain.
Iain Martin, President of Deakin University, Australia: We feel very sorry about the outbreak of the epidemic in Wuhan recently. I can understand how hard it must be for Wuhan University and your students, faculty, family and of course, other citizens. We pray at this depressing and difficult moment that the virus can be successfully controlled and contained, and that the current situation will soon get better. We are ready to offer any help you may need. Besides, we are dedicated to advancing cooperation between scientists on both sides, so that global challenges like this can be better solved in the long run. Again, on behalf of the students and faculty of Deakin University, we sincerely wish that WHU would overcome the adversary.
Mariano Ventosa Rodríguez, Vice-Rector for Research and International Affairs of Comillas Pontifical University, Spain: We are sorry to know that a highly contagious virus is spreading in China. We are glad to see, though, that the Chinese people are taking effective measures to combat the virus, save the patients and contain the disease. Our willingness to interact with Chinese universities will not change in face of the epidemic. Our university will try our best to aid if Wuhan University has any specific needs. On behalf of Comillas Pontifical University, I stand with China and believe that China has the capability to control the situation. I sincerely hope that China will win the battle and return to normal before long. Cheer up, Wuhan! Cheer up, China!
Wendy Alexander, Vice-Principal of the University of Dundee, England: Upon hearing of the COVID-19 outbreak in China, I convey the deepest sympathy to the faculty and students of Wuhan University on behalf of the University of Dundee. We will strive to ensure that our cooperative programs in architecture will not be interrupted. Please let us know if there is anything we can do.
Pierre GENY, Secretary-General of the French Overseas Research Institute: I extend genuine consolation and firm support to the faculty and students of Wuhan University for the calamity. Hopefully it will come to an end in due time, and then I will visit your university again and seek for further cooperation.
Ulrich-Radtke, President of the University of Duisburg-Essen, Germany: I hope the coronavirus will be conquered and that the Chinese people can struggle through in the near future. Wish Wuhan University all the best in the hard time! I would like to strengthen collaborations with WHU after the epidemic and see that the faculty and students of WHU exchange in the University of Duisburg-Essen.
Apart from that, more than ten universities express their intention to promote cooperation with WHU. They are Macquarie University (Australia), Western Sydney University (Australia), University College Cork (Ireland), Benha University (Egypt), Aix-Marseille University (France), the University of Lille (France), the University of Leeds (Britain), the University of California, Riverside (America) and Ohio State University (America).
Letter from Ohio State University
Sincere Consolations
Princess Bajrakitiyabha, Princess of Thailand: I, on behalf of myself and the Thai people, extend wholehearted consolations to the people who were infected with and died from the novel coronavirus pneumonia. We wish those who are still struggling with the disease would quickly rehabilitate. I am especially concerned with the situation in Wuhan, not only because of its gravity, but due to my close connection with Wuhan University. My work in criminology and penologyI leads to the establishment of long-term cooperation with the university and it awarded me with an Honorary Doctorate in 2017. May the joint efforts of all human beings control the epidemic in the end.
Christian Lermiaux, President of ParisTech, France: ParisTech is impressed by the all-out efforts made by the Chinese people to combat the virus, help Hubei Province and save the patients. We appreciate Wuhan University for its significant contributions to the battle through research. Furthermore, we see to it that the disaster does not demolish our engagement and that our admission of students and the application of scholarships and visas are smoothly done.
Letter from ParisTech
Nikolay Kropachev, Rector of Saint Petersburg State University, Russia: Please allow me to pass my sincere consolation and support to the faculty and students of Wuhan University during the period. The contagion is a severe health challenge for the Chinese people and I hope that you can overcome it armed with science as well as unity, bravery and determination. Saint Petersburg State University is checking how things are going on and takes operative measures accordingly. For example, we prolonged the vacation of our Chinese students till March 2, made individual arrangements concerning the tests, tutored students who were in China through off-campus mobile devices. We also offer medical examinations for the faculty and students around the campus whenever necessary.
Letter from Saint Petersburg State University
S. Bruce Dowton, President of Macquarie University, Australia: On behalf of Macquarie University, I convey my heartfelt sympathy to fellows in Wuhan University for the epidemic. Wuhan is seriously hit and we are keeping close watch on its situation. My colleagues and I feel terrible for those who lost their relatives to the disease. And please allow me to admire all the people who endeavor to guarantee the health of others living in the city and elsewhere. As a doctor, I know how challenging the task is, which makes the productive measures taken by the Chinese government and people even more cheerful.
Walter-Rosenthal, President of the University of Jena, Germany: I appreciate the outlook and resolution that the Chinese displayed in confrontation with the contagion. For your information, students of Wuhan University who stayed in the University of Jena are in good conditions, and we will properly handle them till the end of the epidemic.
Zhang Xiang, President of the University of Hong Kong, China: Hubei Province has always been the cradle of heroes and glories since the ancient times. Today, faced with the epidemic, Wuhan University still shoulders the responsibility to combat the virus for the city, with the staff of its affiliated hospitals saving lives against the clock at the front lines. It is magnificent! As the adage goes, “All human experiences are experienced by all humans.” The University of Hong Kong is willing to assist WHU to curb the spread of the virus hand in hand.
Letter from the University of Hong Kong
Xu Xingqing, President of Chinese Culture University, Taiwan, China: I feel regretful that our mutual visit is interrupted by the novel coronavirus. As the ancient poem goes, “People of today are brothers always”. Except for sympathy, I would like to cooperate with WHU in the endeavor. When the epidemic comes to an end, we will visit each other and reinforce our exchange.
Letter from the Chinese Culture University
Another 13 universities extend their consolations and wishes to Wuhan University. They are the University of Auvergne (France), Sophia University (Japan), University College Cork (Ireland), the University of Social Sciences and Management of Bamako (Mali), the University of Pittsburgh (America), French-speaking Free University of Brussels (Belgium), Nottingham Trent University (Britain), Seton Hall University (America), the University of Sydney (Australia), the University of Melbourne (Australia), Monash University (Australia), the University of Canterbury (New Zealand) and Auckland University of Technology (New Zealand).
Gratitude
Finally, since WHU made all-out efforts to provide health services, daily necessities and other aids for international faculties and students who stay there amid the epidemic, many overseas universities and institutions have sent letters to express their gratitude.
Arthayudh Srisamoot, Ambassador of Thailand in China: On behalf of the staff of the embassy, I thank you and your team for your attending to Thai students over the past months! We will spare no effort if there is anything we could coordinate and help China and Wuhan University in the battle against the virus. I will enhance our collaborations with you and promote cultural exchange between China and Thailand.
Ri Yong, Education Minister of the Embassy of North Korea in China: I, on behalf of all the North Korean students studying in Wuhan University and the staff of the Embassy of North Korea in China, convey heartfelt gratitude to Wuhan University for taking care of North Korean students there! In a time when the Chinese people are themselves struggling against the epidemic, it is unforgettable that our students are provided with daily necessities like food, fruits and milk steadily. This is also a proof of the friendship between the peoples of the two countries. I reported your help to Ambassador Ji Jae-ryong. Deeply moved, Ji Jae-ryong said, “It is precious that they care for the North Korean students in such a difficult time”. The ambassador also believed that China would soon win the battle.
Tadahiko Fukuhara and Hiroshi Shirai, President and Vice-President and Director of International Center respectively of Chuo University, Japan: Everyone of Chuo University is concerned with the faculty and students of Wuhan University and those of our own. As a partner university, we are committed to supporting the action that WHU takes to keep the students healthy and safe, which is the top priority. We will ensure the study of those students who are affected by the incident. Please contact us if you need any help. We would like to resume the exchange programs with you and other partner universities in China as early as possible.
Gamal Elsaeed, President of Benha University, Egypt: Benha University is confident of the measures taken by the Chinese government to combat the epidemic, and we demand our students to follow the instructions. We cherish your efforts for our students and your transparent management. We also appreciate the endeavors of the Chinese researchers, without whom the genome sequence of the virus would not be identified with such an impressive speed.
Rewritten by: Zhou Siyan
Edited by: Cao Siyi, Shen Yuxi and Hu Sijia
