The Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in the Kingdom of Tonga wishes to brief the Prime Minister’s Office, Ministry of Health and relevant Ministries of the Government of the Kingdom of Tonga, His Majesty’s Armed Forces and Tongan media on the current situation about the latest situation of the novel coronavirus pneumonia outbreak prevention and control in China.

I. By the midday of 29th January, the confirmed cases in China are 5974, among which 103 are cured and 132 dead. There are also 9239 suspected cases under medical observation.

II. The Chinese government attaches great importance to the outbreak of the novel coronavirus pneumonia since the very beginning. It has mobilized nationwide forces to fight against the epidemic, and continues releasing information on the epidemic control timely and actively. President Xi Jinping made several instructions on fighting against the epidemic and established a leading group tackling the epidemic under the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC). As of now, The Chinese government has already established all-round, multi-layer control systems at both central and local levels, which mainly focus on Wuhan city and Hubei region. The works on all fronts are open and transparent, and are advancing orderly and scientifically. China always takes people’s safety and health, including foreign citizens, as its top priority.

III. China has been actively conducting international cooperation on disease prevention and control with a highly responsible attitude, sharing the epidemic situation, the gene sequence of the novel coronavirus and other technical information with WHO. The WHO and many other countries appreciate China’s strong measures and proper control work, speak highly of the cooperation and transparency, especially the expeditious separation of the novel coronavirus, gene sequencing and sharing with the international community.

IV. Under current situation, the Chinese government wishes to make three suggestions to Tongan Government and Tongan People for the prevention of the epidemic:

First, be confident. As some authoritative medical experts pointed out, panic is more devastating than the epidemic itself. The epidemic is preventable, controllable and curable. The Chinese government has taken strong and large-scale measures that can hardly taken by any other country to deal with the epidemic within such short period of time, and will continue to resolutely make sure such measures are effectively implemented.

Second, be assured. The Chinese government will fulfill its international obligations to address the legitimate concerns of the foreign citizens in the China in a timely manner and to protect their safety with a responsible attitude.

Third, be optimistic. With the strong leadership of the CPC and the Chinese government, with the advantages of the Chinese socialist system, with the preventive and control system established since the outbreak of SARS in 2003, with the practical experiences gained in dealing with major public health events including the H1N1 flu, the bird flu and the ebola, with the strong science and technology as well as material basis accumulated during the past 70 years since the establishment of the People’s Republic of China, the Chinese government is determined, confident and capable to win this war against the novel coronavirus.

V. China attaches great importance to the safety and health of all the foreign citizens in China, including Tongan citizens. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China has established an emergency coordinating mechanism to work close with foreign missions to deal with foreign affairs caused by the epidemic. Basing on the calm and scientific estimation of the current situation, the Chinese government holds that it is not necessary to conduct massive evacuation of foreign nationals from China. The Chinese central government will continuously and actively ship materials to support Wuhan city. For the foreign citizens staying in Wuhan, their life and medical care are well guaranteed. For the foreign students staying at universities in Wuhan, they have also been taken good care of by the universities and teachers. The Chinese government will spare no efforts to protect the safety and health of Tongan citizens in China, keep sharing first-hand information with Tonga, and actively working with the international community to win the fight against this novel coronavirus pneumonia epidemic as soon as possible.