Tian Hongqi pointed out in her letter that the novel coronavirus is the common enemy of mankind, and the two schools should help each other and overcome difficulties in the principle of mutual trust and friendship. In the near future, we will definitely overcome the epidemic. The university campus will be back on track, and the two schools will make new developments in the construction of the Confucius Institute.

In addition, in order to express support for the fight against the epidemic, Ma Jianfei, Deputy Chief Executive of the Confucius Institute Headquarters, sent a letter to Djuma Kauzeni Rashidi to express his deep concern and consolation, and his thanks for previous support from the Congolese Diplomatic Academy for China's fight against the epidemic and the care to the Chinese personnel of the Confucius Institute. It is learned that the outbreak of COVID-19 also occurs in Democratic Republic of the Congo, and the people there face great health risks and physical and mental pressure. It is hoped that both sides can work together to overcome the epidemic and greet a better tomorrow.

Central South University and the Congolese Diplomatic Academy, as the units of establishing the only Confucius Institute in Democratic Republic of the Congo, have always maintained effective communication, united together, and faced this common “battle” together. When China was fighting the epidemic with all efforts in February this year, Bakatula Marie Madeleine Nzuzi, Director of the Academic Affairs Division of the Congolese Diplomatic Academy and Congolese Dean of the Confucius Institute, sent a letter of consolation to our university and the Confucius Institute Headquarters and recorded a video of the initiative, believing that China will defeat the epidemic. Djuma Kauzeni Rashidi, President of the Congolese Diplomatic Academy, and Fundi Tanganika Eloi, Director of the General Office, expressed their support to the Chinese Dean for China's fight against the epidemic.

At present, China has achieved an initial victory in the fight against the epidemic. However, since the first imported case of novel coronavirus pneumonia was confirmed in Kinshasa on March 10, the epidemic situation of novel coronavirus pneumonia in Democratic Republic of the Congo has become increasingly severe. The Chinese employees of the Confucius Institute immediately publicized China's achievements in the fight against the COVID-19 epidemic and the daily protection knowledge to all students, distributed the previously prepared masks, disinfectants, hand sanitizers and other anti-epidemic materials to the Congolese employees, and formulated the COVID-19 Response Plan for Congolese Diplomatic Academy to make rational responses in conjunction with the anti-epidemic measures of local government, to ensure the staff safety and operational safety of the Confucius Institute. The Chinese classroom teaching was changed to online Q&A, and the students' interest in learning Chinese was maintained through social software groups, through which Chinese culture and the materials related to China’s fight against the epidemic are also shared.

Source: Office of International Cooperation and Exchanges