The ROK: Donating Goods to 12 Chinese Cities

(The Fight Against COVID-19)

Updated:2020-03-13 | By:China.org.cn

The ROK: Donating Goods to 12 Chinese Cities

On February 11, the Seoul Metropolitan Government of the Republic of Korea (ROK) donated 1,000 sets of medical protective suits, 500 goggles, 90 medical masks, 30 portable thermal imaging cameras and others, with a total value of 600 million won (about 3.53 million yuan), to 12 cities including Beijing and Chongqing. It also said that it would continue to provide masks for civilian use and other materials as appropriate to help China fight against the epidemic. 

In a video message, Mayor of Seoul Park Won-soon expressed his thanks to Beijing for sending a special mission to help Seoul when the city was mired in the MERS epidemic. He hoped China could overcome the current difficulties as soon as possible, and looked forward to Seoul and its Chinese sister cities helping each other in the predicament and deepening friendship. 

On February 15, the Seoul Metropolitan Government began broadcasting short videos supporting China's fight against the COVID-19 epidemic in public buildings such as the City Hall, Gwanghwamun and several other subway stations, as well as elevators of more than 70 relevant institutions. The civilians of Seoul also showed their support. Hankuk University of Foreign Studies put up a banner saying "Stay strong Wuhan, stay strong China." Sungkyun Institute of China Studies of Sungkyunkwan University donated 3 million won (about 18,000 yuan) and sent a letter of sympathy. 

According to preliminary statistics, the ROK government and private donations have exceeded 150 million yuan. President Moon Jae-in said that the ROK and China are friendly neighbors, and his country will take China's difficulties as theirs. His country will spare no effort in assisting and coordinating with China to fight the epidemic together, and promote further development of bilateral relations.

The mutual support and assistance between China and the ROK in the face of difficulties reflects the two countries' common cultural background and friendly tradition, and shows the affection of neighborhood and righteousness of friends which enable the two countries to work together to build a global community of shared future.

韩国:向12城市捐赠物资

2月11日,韩国首尔市政府向北京、重庆等12座城市提供1000套医用防护服、500个护目镜、90个医用防护面罩、30台便携式热成像摄像机等6亿韩元(约合人民币353万元)规模的援助物资,并表示还将视情提供民用口罩等物资,助力中国抗击新冠肺炎疫情。首尔市市长朴元淳专门录制支持视频,感谢北京市在首尔深陷中东呼吸综合征(MERS)疫情之际派遣特使团给予帮助,希望中国能够早日战胜当前困难,期待首尔市与中国友好城市在困境中相濡以沫,不断加深友谊。2月15日起,首尔市政府在市政厅广场等公共建筑、光化门等数个人流密集的地铁站,以及首尔市70多个有关机构的电梯内,滚动播放支持中国抗击新冠肺炎疫情的短视频。在民间,韩国外国语大学挂出“武汉加油、中国加油”的横幅,成均馆大学成均中国研究所捐赠300万韩元,并发出慰问信。据初步统计,韩国政府和民间捐款捐物已超过1.5亿元人民币。韩国总统文在寅表示,韩中互为友好邻邦,中国的困难就是我们的困难,韩国将不遗余力地提供支援和配合,与中国携手战“疫”、共克时艰,推动两国关系进一步发展。

中韩两国面对困难相互支持、相互帮助,反映了两国之间共同共通的文化底蕴、守望相助的友好传统,显示出携手构建人类命运共同体的邻里情、朋友义。