China’s efforts to fight the novel coronavirus pneumonia have won acclaims around the world. Chinese language learners overseas have organized various activities in support of China’s efforts. Here are some of the activities staged by students from the Confucius Institutes supported by East China Normal University (ECNU).
Confucius Institute at University of Turin, Italy
Immediately after the epidemic outbreak, the Confucius Institute at the University of Turin, which was jointly founded by ECNU and the University of Turin, released a message on its official Facebook page to raise money for anti-epidemic medical supplies to aid China.
On February 4, two articles, “Give as much light as the heart can produce and Isolate the virus, but not love, appeared in La Stampa, La Repubblica and Corriere della Sera, two of the top three Italian newspapers, voicing their support of China's anti-epidemic campaign. They evoked profound responses in local communities.
Isolate the virus, but not love, appeared in two of the top three Italian newspapers.
On February 13, Flash China, a flash event sponsored by the Confucius Institute of the University of Turin, was staged at the Castle Square in the center of Turin to cheer for China. Hundreds of Italians and local Chinese participated in the event. They carried banners and cards inscribed with We are together with the Chinese people and the people of Wuhan, Be strong, Wuhan, and Isolate the virus, but not love and chanted slogans to show their support to the Chinese people fighting the novel coronavirus. The event was broadcast live by Italian State Television (RAI 1) and was covered by several other media companies, such as Rai 3 and La Stampa.
Teenagers from the Confucius Institute also drew pictures in support of China and Wuhan. On the pictures were written such Chinese characters as “Stand with China, stand with Wuhan”. They sang the song “We are the World” by Michael Jackson and demonstrated that no difficulties were unconquerable before a united world.
Teenagers from the Confucius Institute held pictures in support of China and Wuhan in the street.
Confucius Institute at Universite libre de Bruxelles, Belgium
On the evening of February 11, a party to celebrate the Chinese Lunar New Year was held at Université libre de Bruxelles. The event was organized by the Confucius Institute jointly established by ECNU and Université libre de Bruxelles. The most touching scene appeared at the end of the party when the performers held out banners with Chinese characters on them, such as China, Jiayou and Wuhan, Jiayou and shouted them out in unanimity. While the students expressed their concerns about China's current situation, they believed that the measures taken by the Chinese government were timely and effective.
Lu Xiaohong, the Chinese director of this Confucius Institute, said that despite the cold weather that day, many students showed up to express their support to China's fight against the epidemic. I was moved by their understanding and support. We will continue to work hard to promote friendship between China and Belgium, ”said Lu.
Author: Xu Xincheng Copy editor: Philip Nash Editor: Linlan Zhang
