China Daily | Strength of culture helped China fight pandemic

COVID-19 is the most infectious pandemic in the world in a century, testing the governance capacity of countries. In the face of a sudden and severe pandemic, the Communist Party of China has united and led the people of all ethnic groups in China in a battle against COVID-19, enduring an arduous historical test and making tremendous efforts to achieve a major strategic outcome in the fight against COVID-19, creating another heroic feat in the history of mankind’s fight against the plague.
China’s remarkable achievements in COVID-19 prevention and control are mainly due to the strength of the national system, scientific leadership, unity of the people, quick response and effective action. The spirit and wisdom of “firm confidence, solidarity, scientific prevention and control, and targeted measures” demonstrated in the implementation of the major strategic measures of “Wuhan lockdown” have delivered indispensable confidence and strength to the world at this critical moment in the global battle against COVID-19.
The gene of Chinese culture is “harmony”. In the Chinese cultural atmosphere, ideological spirit refers to the unity of man and nature with benevolence as the core. Compared with the Western values of advocating individual freedom and the exclusive and dogmatic monotheistic religious view, Chinese culture embraces all rivers and is more tolerant of harmonious coexistence with other countries.
It is the spirit and wisdom of humanity and morality embodied in 5,000 years of excellent traditional Chinese culture that makes every Chinese willing to accept their own scientific and effective measures for pandemic prevention and control. Even if such quarantine measures seriously affect the lives of individuals, the high moral sentiment and cultural accomplishment of the Chinese people make them accept the scientific pandemic prevention measures taken by the government from the bottom of their hearts, because in the hearts of the Chinese people, the government is trustworthy and responsible.
At the same time, Chinese people are also willing to stay at home for the sake of the health of others and their family members and friends, so as not to cause trouble to those around them. They will not violate home quarantine for the sake of personal freedom and preference, and they will not put their own freedom and preference above the health and safety of others.
In other words, the moral and cultural tradition of benevolence has been deeply rooted in the spirit and soul of the Chinese people, and this highly civilized spirit and sentiment has been integrated into the spirit of every Chinese and become the cultural gene of the Chinese people from generation to generation, resulting in the civilization and glory of China with a history of 5,000 years.
The spirit and civilization of the traditional Chinese culture of “unity under heaven” has encouraged the Chinese government to take the initiative and stand shoulder to shoulder with other countries in the world to fight and control the pandemic. China is working overtime to provide all kinds of materials and products needed for the prevention and control of the pandemic to help people in all countries to better reduce the infection of the virus and lead a healthy life.
The pandemic knows no borders. Facing the global spread of the pandemic, China has provided assistance to 82 countries, the WHO and the African Union, and sent letters to leaders of more than 110 political parties, fully expounding China’s experience and practices in pandemic prevention and control, providing pandemic prevention and control, diagnosis and treatment plans to nearly 400 political parties and necessary medical supplies and technical assistance to foreign political parties and international organizations in need.
In terms of pandemic prevention and control, social stability, economic recovery and development, and the stability of people’s lives, China’s report card is the best.
Pu Jingxin, in China Daily
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