China News Service, Moscow, April 11th (Reporter Wang Xiujun) Chinese Ambassador to Russia Zhang Hanhui said in an exclusive interview with China News Service on the 10th that Russia's current epidemic has reached a very critical point and hopes that Chinese citizens will abide by Russia's relevant epidemic prevention requirements To avoid long journeys. In the course of the joint fight against the epidemic, China and Russia have demonstrated the particularity and high level of relations between the two countries.
Russia's epidemic situation shows a "significant increase" trend
Zhang Hanhui first introduced Russia's current epidemic prevention situation. He said that at the early stage of the new coronary pneumonia epidemic, the Russian government attached great importance to it and adopted a series of joint defense and joint control measures in a timely manner to extensively mobilize and strictly guard against death, so as to minimize the risk of importing the epidemic. However, with the rapid outbreak of the global epidemic, especially in Europe, a large number of Russian tourists and expatriates returned to the country, resulting in increased pressure to import the domestic epidemic. Russia's current epidemic has developed to a very critical node, presenting a transmission path of "mainly imported from abroad and associated community infections", geographical distribution of "Western heavy, East light, and Moscow prominent", and the development of the epidemic "significantly increased".
Zhang Hanhui said that in order to prevent the risk of foreign outbreaks from being imported and to prevent the spread of outbreaks in Russia, Russia has continuously strengthened relevant prevention and control measures. From March 18th, Russia began to restrict the entry of foreigners. On March 27th, the government urgently announced the closure of all border crossings, suspended all international flights except for the evacuation of overseas Chinese, and took a national holiday until April 30. Various measures such as self-isolation at home, closure of restaurants, hotels, entertainment venues, construction of new medical centers, and expansion of testing scope have strengthened epidemic prevention and control. However, at present, the prevention and control in Russia is also facing problems such as insufficient implementation of the isolation system and the need to improve the public's self-protection awareness.
Zhang Hanhui said that due to the severe epidemic in Europe, the epidemic in Russia is not optimistic. With the expansion of the number of detections, the number of confirmed diagnoses in Russia is likely to increase rapidly. As President Putin stated in a remote video conference with the government on April 1, "Russia's current epidemic situation is becoming more and more complicated."
Rumors about Russian friendship towards Chinese citizens
Zhang Hanhui emphasized that, in general, all walks of life in Russia are friendly and protective of Chinese citizens. Prior to this, all walks of life in Russian society spontaneously recorded refueling videos to support China's anti-epidemic, which is moving and reflects the sincere feelings of the Russian people for the Chinese people. The embassy maintains close ties with Russian government departments and universities, and makes every effort to protect the health and legal rights and interests of Chinese citizens in Russia. The Russian government has also given due attention to Chinese citizens. Russian leaders have repeatedly expressed their opposition to any form of racial discrimination. The anti-epidemic measures adopted by the Russian side are aimed at everyone, whether they are Russians or foreigners. We must maintain a rational, positive, and objective mentality in this regard, abide by Russia ’s relevant epidemic prevention requirements, and avoid long-distance travel. Home isolation is the best anti-epidemic measure.
Zhang Hanhui said that there have been many false reports and false news on the Internet recently. I want to emphasize to you that the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs formally reported to the embassy on April 7th. After learning from the relevant powerful Russian authorities, no Chinese citizen has been detained in Russia or has been subjected to strong Russian visas or residence permit issues. Cases of departmental restrictions. The Russian side also did not expel Chinese citizens, including Chinese businessmen in the Moscow big market. There are currently about 150,000 Chinese citizens in Russia. The online message that "Russia will expel 1.5 million Chinese citizens" is purely sensational rumors. I hope that everyone can understand the correct information and understand the accurate information through the embassy website, WeChat public account and other platforms, rather than listening to rumors, let alone spreading rumors.
Sino-Russian joint anti-epidemic reflects the particularity and high level of relations between the two countries
Zhang Hanhui said that as a comprehensive strategic cooperation partner in the new era, China and Russia have also demonstrated the particularity and high level of Sino-Russian relations in the joint fight against the epidemic.
First, jointly demonstrate firm political support. President Putin was the first big head of state to send a message of condolences to President Xi Jinping. He has spoken highly of the Chinese government and people's anti-epidemic efforts and decisive measures five times. Several high-level Russian dignitaries have spoken one after another to cheer for the Chinese people. Mainstream Russian media and all sectors of society have supported China by recording video, writing media, and speaking online. As President Xi Jinping and President Putin commented on the call on March 19: "At a special moment in the fight against the epidemic, China and Russia have supported each other, watched and helped each other, and carried out close cooperation, reflecting the high level of Sino-Russian relations in the new era."
The second is mutual aid and refueling. At a critical moment in China's fight against epidemics, the Russian side reached out to China in time and provided China with 189 cubic meters and 23 tons of medical assistance when its own protective equipment reserves were insufficient. After China successfully controlled the domestic epidemic, the first batch of anti-epidemic materials aided by the Chinese government to Russia also arrived in Moscow on April 2. The total volume of the aid cargo is about 269 cubic meters, and the total gross weight is about 25.5 tons, including medical masks, protective clothing, surgical gloves, thermometers and other materials. The mutual medical material assistance between China and Russia has jointly explained the connotation of Sino-Russian relations in the new era of "watching each other for help, sharing troubles together."
The third is to strengthen the sharing of epidemic information and build a line of defense against epidemics. Since the outbreak of the Chinese epidemic, the Chinese and Russian defense epidemic authorities and diplomatic agencies have established a direct communication mechanism for epidemic reporting. The Chinese side sends the "New Coronary Pneumonia Epidemic Situation Notification" to the Russian Ministry of Health and Epidemic Prevention every day. "Investigation Plan", "Guidelines for Prevention and Control of Travel Epidemic Situation", etc. were sent to Russia. The Russian side also sent the updated "New Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) Infection Prevention, Diagnosis and Treatment Interim Guidelines" to China for the first time, which provides an important reference for the deployment of prevention and control work for China and Russia, and also for China and Russia to cut off the epidemic. Provide protection for international communication.
The fourth is to actively promote Sino-Russian scientific and technological cooperation in prevention and control. China is willing to work with other countries, including Russia, to strengthen international cooperation in epidemic prevention based on the concept of a community of shared future for mankind, to share experience in prevention and control and treatment, to promote joint scientific research, to work together to address common threats and challenges, and maintain global public health security. At the beginning of February, the Russian side sent a delegation of anti-epidemic experts to China to carry out anti-epidemic technical exchanges. This is the first foreign defense epidemic expert team that China received in a special period. Soon, the anti-epidemic medical expert team dispatched by the Chinese government at the request of the Russian side will come to Moscow to guide the anti-epidemic prevention and control and clinical diagnosis and treatment of the Russian side, and provide training for Russian anti-epidemic personnel. The Russian Victor National Virology and Biotechnology Science Center and the Biological Center of the Chinese Ministry of Science and Technology have established direct contact and plan to cooperate in the areas of virus tracing, laboratory diagnosis and vaccine development. The mutually beneficial cooperation between the two sides in the field of health science and technology will become an important part of the "Sino-Russian Year of Scientific and Technological Innovation".
The Embassy asked Russia to provide convenience to Chinese citizens
Zhang Hanhui said that at the beginning of the outbreak, the Chinese embassy in Russia set up a special anti-epidemic work class, fully cooperated with the domestic fight against epidemic, strengthened communication with various Russian departments, promoted Sino-Russian epidemic prevention cooperation, and notified the Russian side of the epidemic situation in a timely manner. Vigorously carry out public diplomacy, held meetings with mainstream media in China and Russia, interviewed by mainstream media of the two countries and published signed articles in mainstream media of Russia, introducing the progress of our epidemic prevention work and cooperation between the two countries. On the one hand, these efforts have made Chinese and overseas Chinese in Russia constantly improve their awareness of prevention. On the other hand, they have triggered the upsurge of the Russian people to actively support my anti-epidemic work through videos, etc. At the same time, they have led the Russian mainstream media to objectively and actively report on our anti-epidemic work. Through the website and WeChat public account and other new media platforms, the latest information on the latest communication with Russia, adjustments to Russian visa and immigration policies, port closures, airline flight route adjustments and other information are announced as soon as possible, reminding Chinese citizens to abide by the rules issued by Russia. Various anti-epidemic measures and timely release of authoritative news to eliminate relevant false rumors. We will do our utmost to safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of overseas Chinese in Russia and do consular protection. The embassy communicates closely with the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Science and Education and other departments to coordinate issues such as visas, residence, schooling, and work for Chinese citizens. At the same time, the embassy's insurance department opened a 24-hour service hotline to answer various issues of concern to Chinese citizens and provide relevant insurance services for Chinese citizens isolated by the Moscow municipal government and other Chinese citizens in Russia who encounter various difficulties.
Zhang Hanhui said that after the domestic epidemic situation gradually subsided, the epidemic prevention situation in Russia gradually became grim. The epidemic prevention work of the Chinese Embassy in Russia entered the second half, and the focus of the work shifted to actively doing the importation of epidemic prevention to support the Russian anti-epidemic struggle. In order to effectively reduce the pressure of importing the epidemic situation from abroad, we actively consulted with the Russian side and asked them to provide convenience and help for Chinese citizens living and staying in Russia. To Chinese and overseas Chinese students, it is mainly to guide them to carry out scientific epidemic prevention and stabilize the people's hearts. At present, there are more than 10,000 Chinese-funded employees in Russia, 50,000 to 60,000 individual Chinese businessmen, and 27,000 foreign students. Many Chinese and overseas Chinese face certain life and psychological pressures. In this regard, the embassy maintains close cooperation with Chinese-funded institutions in Russia and the Chinese Chamber of Commerce, and sends a more mature emergency response plan template for its reference, guides it to carry out anti-epidemic work, and urges it to continuously improve the emergency response plan for outbreaks. For the vast number of students studying abroad, the embassy publishes information and notices on epidemic prevention and protection, online remote psychological consultation, diagnosis and treatment platforms, academic arrangements and other information through various channels to increase their awareness and ability to prevent, and at the same time coordinate enterprises to donate protective materials such as masks to students. The Education Department of the Embassy and other departments set up an emergency epidemic prevention working group to deal with student emergencies in a timely manner, instructing the Chinese Federation of Russian Students and the school-study associations to set up an epidemic prevention working group to improve the ability of foreign students to help each other. Establish a coordinated linkage mechanism with academic federations, schools, and hospitals, do a good job in the diagnosis and treatment of diagnosed classmates, and protect the health of isolated students, and set up a helpline for overseas students. In late March, the embassy successively video-connected representatives of Chinese-funded enterprises in Russia, representatives of overseas students, representatives of Chinese businessmen and overseas Chinese groups in Russia, conveyed the cordial care and greetings of the Party Central Committee and the State Council, introduced the important results achieved in the domestic anti-epidemic, and analyzed the situation of the Russian epidemic , Relieve psychological pressure, encourage them to reassure themselves in epidemic prevention, and overcome difficulties together.
Zhang Hanhui said that with the severe situation of the Russian epidemic and the shortage of protective materials, the embassy actively promoted domestic private institutions and relevant departments to provide medical supplies to Russia, and promoted domestic high-quality medical materials and equipment products to Russia. On April 2, 26 tons of Chinese government aid for Russian anti-epidemic materials arrived in Moscow. The Chinese Medical Experts Group is coming to Russia to guide the epidemic prevention work. I believe that Sino-Russian cooperation will surely fight the second half of the epidemic prevention battle. We will also go all out to protect the rights, health and safety of our citizens in Russia. (Finish)