Would overseas Chinese and overseas students return home? How can I ask for help? Counsellor of the Chinese Embassy in Spain said

According to the Spanish National newspaper, the Ministry of Health reported on the 25th that in the past 24 hours, 7,937 new cases of new pneumonia were confirmed, with a total of 47,610 confirmed deaths and a total of 3,434 deaths.

At present, Spain has become the fourth country in the world with more than 40,000 confirmed cases. It is also the only country in Europe with an epidemic second only to Italy.

What happened to overseas Chinese and students studying abroad in the epidemic? Returning home or not? How can the embassy help?

On March 24th, Beijing time, Zhu Jian, Consul Counsellor of the Chinese Embassy in Spain, accepted an online interview with reporters from China News Agency.

The following is the interview record:

What is the current working and living situation of overseas Chinese and students studying in the West?

Spain has taken precautionary measures since March 14 and implemented some controls throughout the territory, which have a relatively large impact on everyone.

According to the requirements of the restraining order, most shops of overseas Chinese in Xi'an have been closed, and similar confectionery or food shops are also allowed to open. We also pass information to all overseas Chinese merchants who operate these shops through overseas Chinese groups and communities, asking them to strictly abide by the relevant Spanish requirements and operate within the allowed range. We hope that everyone will protect their health and epidemic prevention as their primary goals.

After the implementation of the Spanish alert, Chinese students traveling to the West should have stopped related teaching activities. Some schools have arranged online courses according to the school, and some schools have not arranged online courses for the time being. These students mainly stay at home or study on their own.

What difficulties do overseas Chinese and students studying in the west face? What help does the embassy or consulate provide?

There are more than 16,000 Chinese students studying in Spain. We roughly divide it into 3 categories:

In the first category, everyone's own protective supplies are relatively abundant, this category may account for the majority of the international student group; in the second category, everyone's masks and other protective materials may not be particularly sufficient; in the third category, everyone does not have masks or materials Very lacking, such as less than five masks, but must go out because of their own needs. The third group of people is the focus of our attention.

After preliminary investigation, there are about 600 people in the third group. The embassy has done a few things to help them.

Around the 12th, we urgently contacted the Spanish government department, mainly the Ministry of Health. Through communication, request or negotiation, we hope to allow individuals outside Spain to send small parcels of less than two kilograms to Chinese citizens in the West, and got the Spanish government Recognition.

Starting from the 16th, as long as it is a small parcel sent to Spain for personal use only for personal use, after filling in the corresponding instructions and pasting labels, in principle, it can enter smoothly. With this measure, I believe that through mutual support among the people, we can alleviate the material problem to a great extent.

Of course, there may still be some international students facing a shortage of supplies. The embassy, ​​especially the education department of the cultural department, and the consulate general are preparing "health packages" for them. I hope that through the local delivery service in Spain, we really need protection. Foreign students with supplies have certain protection capabilities.

The protection level of overseas Chinese may be better than that of international students and local Spanish. Because objectively, the epidemic situation in China is ahead. On the whole, Chinese citizens in West China attach more importance to this aspect, and the time of information collection is higher and earlier.

However, some overseas Chinese may be inadequately prepared for this. One is to solve the problem by opening the domestic parcel post; and some corresponding arrangements are also made through the overseas Chinese delegation.

What is the current situation of local embassies and consulates sending materials to overseas Chinese and foreign students?

The embassy has collected some materials that are supported in the country. We focus on allocating to international students and those who lack material protection. Of course, there are many difficulties, including local delivery and whether the courier company can operate normally. We are communicating with several companies to try to reach the people in need.

At present, we mainly put on masks, which have been successively delivered to those who have communicated with the embassy and consulates and really lack supplies.

You also mentioned earlier that overseas Chinese groups and overseas Chinese communities have done a lot of work. Could you tell us about it?

In the early stage, overseas Chinese and students studying abroad purchased materials for the motherland's fight against the epidemic and sent them to the country, including supporting the domestic fight against the epidemic. The epidemic is relatively serious overseas, including Spain. Our overseas citizens, including overseas students, are also united to help governments and people living in the country fight the epidemic.

On the one hand, everyone uses their own overseas Chinese communities, overseas Chinese groups, and student unions to send information to members, overseas Chinese and international students to provide some help and guidance; on the other hand, many donations have been made in Spain. Now they are running to find some sources of goods and transportation, in order to provide some local material support.

This is even more the case with solidarity support. Since the start of the alert, citizens will applaud and approve local medical staff and people in all departments that have contributed to the fight against the epidemic on the balcony or window after 8pm every night. Overseas Chinese are also actively participating in it. .

There is also an online publicity campaign for "Living at Home" in Spain, with overseas Chinese participating. Of course, we have seen more overseas Chinese sending local masks, hand sanitizers, etc. for local hospitals, police stations, municipal governments, and corresponding departments of the central government. These scenes are moving the people around us, as well as those of our embassies and consulates, who are fighting the epidemic and have nothing to do with nationality, skin color, political parties, and religious beliefs. Let ’s do one thing together.

So on behalf of the embassy and consulate general, I pay tribute to overseas Chinese and overseas students. The embassy and consulate general will also be with you to fight the epidemic, protect ourselves, and protect our Spanish friends.

Under the epidemic, do overseas Chinese and students studying in the West need to return to China, what suggestions do you have?

The main thing is to clarify our thinking, what kind of situation is the safest.

Objectively speaking, thanks to the joint efforts of the Party Central Committee, the State Council, and the people of the country, the domestic epidemic prevention and control has achieved very positive results, but further maintenance is needed. Compared with Spain, the overall domestic situation is safer. Some, this is true.

But at the same time, in general, the risks during the journey are far greater than the risks of living and recuperating in Spain. Between the different risks, we "take the advantage of the two," so we still recommend that all travelers in West China Chinese citizens fight the epidemic at home.

Of course, it is necessary to consider the specific situation of each person, and at the same time comprehensive analysis, including analysis of their own physical conditions, whether they have the ability to withstand 14 days of isolation and fatigue during travel, after weighing all the circumstances, make the clearest and most A choice that benefits your own safety. As staff members of the embassy and consulate, we also put the health and safety of Chinese citizens in West China first.

What advice do you have for overseas Chinese and students who stay in Spain and choose to return?

We recommend that Chinese citizens staying behind stay in their homes in accordance with the policies of the corresponding local restraining orders and require home-based epidemic prevention.

While complying with relevant regulations, you must ensure your daily needs, such as material preparation, food supply, etc. When you find that you have some symptoms, contact the Spanish medical department in time. If you encounter difficulties, I hope they We can contact the embassy and consulate, and we will patiently guide you so that everyone can get the support of the Spanish health department as soon as possible.

Of course, in the process of home, we must live in a healthy and sunny way to ensure our own health and enhance immunity. At the same time, we can also play our part to help others fight the epidemic, including sharing their feelings at home, and helping Spanish authorities to raise some Materials, or exchanging experiences remotely.

If you choose to travel back to China, we still recommend that you be aware of the possible risks and make judgments based on your actual situation. Furthermore, you must take appropriate protection during the trip, follow the requirements of medical staff and managers during the trip, and return to China. Follow local requirements as well.

What are the channels for overseas Chinese and foreign students to contact the embassy or consulate?

We have added a consular protection phone. There are now two consular protection phones. There are people on duty 24 hours a day, and you can contact the epidemic at any time.

The embassy's fixed telephones are also on duty during working hours.

In addition, the WeChat of the embassy, ​​the WeChat of the Consulate General, and the mailbox of the embassy and consulate all received a lot of information from everyone, and we will respond to each one.

What is the current status of infection among overseas Chinese and foreign students? What are the future directions of the embassy and consulate?

The core work of the embassy and consulate is to protect the health and safety of overseas Chinese and students studying in the West.

In the coming period, we will subdivide Chinese citizens in West China according to four types of situations and provide them with corresponding protection.

The largest group is healthy Chinese citizens. What is more for them is to do a good job in transmitting information to help them stabilize their homes, adjust and fight the epidemic.

The second group is close contacts of patients with new coronary pneumonia. After learning about the situation, we will provide some information and specific guidance for you through the corresponding communication channels.

The third category is suspected patients. While guiding, we strive to help them receive treatment and diagnosis from the local medical department. This is our priority work.

The last category is confirmed cases. This category is the most core. The number is not particularly large, but it is also increasing and requires high attention. As of now, the number of confirmed diagnoses reported to the embassy and consulate is 28, of which three are international students and the rest are overseas Chinese. One of them has been cured, and is now in a late recovery state, and the others are receiving corresponding treatment.

In response to this group, we communicated and provided suggestions one by one, and established a WeChat group with the staff of the embassy and consulate as the owner, "Chinese Embassy and Consulates in the West Are With You", and specially invited eight from Zhejiang Doctor, provide some specific medical advice and share in the group. Our embassy and consulate will stay with all confirmed overseas Chinese and students until they finally recover.

Reporters: Fan Siyi, Ma Xiuxiu