Why is China Helping ITALY?
Why is China so heartfelt about Italy?
It turns out that there are a series of heartwarming stories between China and Italy involving an exciting history.
At the beginning of the founding of the PRC, all kinds of hostilities were present, including armed conflict. At that time, Sino-US relations had not thawed, and Western countries had not recognized China as yet.
No heavyweight country was on its side.
In these uncertain & sensitive times, Italy announced the establishment of ambassadorial diplomatic relations with China, helping the Chinese platform. This was Italy “sending charcoal in the snow”.
Italy did a lot for China. Even In 1988, China was mired in poverty. For a long time after the founding of the PRC,
its medical services were poor & villages were still dominated by barefoot doctors.
Many doctors had little education, many cities were short of medicine.
No one cared. At this point, only Italy stood out. “It’s okay, if you have any requirements, we will help you.” Italy went on to help China build several emergency centers, including the famous Chongqing Emergency Center.
In the spring of 1988, the Italian Prime Minister visited China, participating in the inauguration ceremony of the Chongqing Emergency Center. He brought much-needed medical equipment, including 19 advanced ambulances. (At that time there were not many cars in China)
Italy also donated a full set of ICU ward equipment not seen before inside China.
The Chongqing Emergency Center is still operational.
Many Sichuan compatriots’ lives were saved. Italy said: “This is for you free of charge.” They were helpful when China was poor, desperately poor.
Even after China instituted reforms and opened up, they continued to help. In 2003, during the SARS epidemic, Italy did not alienate China but instead strengthened cooperation with the country.
A high-level military conference was held four times a year, & cooperation in other areas increased. Berlusconi, then Prime Minister of Italy, resisted external pressure to visit China. He encouraged Italian companies to invest in China, & helped to develop better missiles and helicopters.
Then, there was the Wenchuan earthquake. Let’s take a look at a series of operations in Italy: One million euros, supplies worth 1.5 million euros, 240 huge tents. Tens of thousands of Chinese victims became homeless. Italy sent medical experts, helped establish mobile hospitals on the spot, provided defibrillators, ventilators, blood test equipment, autoclave, anesthesia.
Frontline officers and soldiers rescued the wounded, built a hospital with their own hands, ate and lived with the Chinese,
saving more than 900 victims.
After the admission of a female patient, aftershocks struck, & an Italian orthopedist actually used his body to shield the patient. It’s Children’s Day, & an
Italian doctor in surgical gown stands on a temporary stage, hugging the local children, singing that European and American nursery rhymes. Another surgeon prepares two Children’s Day gifts,
alpine sweets from Italy, & pizza made by the doctors.
These details are not known at all, not publicized. These Italian doctors were not
only great, but also cute and funny. When they left, outside the bus, they bid farewell with tears in their eyes.
Last year, the United States took the lead in blocking Huawei. No one dared to cooperate with Huawei. Britain, France and Germany took the lead in expressing their unwillingness to cooperate with Huawei. Neighbors like Japan and South Korea retreated, refusing to cooperate with Huawei on the grounds of security risks.
Italy came through for China once again:
“You don’t need, right? I use it!” Huawei took the lead in building 5G base stations in Italy. The Minister of Economic Development of Italy attended the 5G base station launching ceremony, pressing the first button of a 5G base station, followed by the Italian Deputy Prime Minister.
Italy gave Huawei a chance to show Europe that it is safe and reliable, & dared to risk offending the White House,
It is Italy that spared no effort to help Huawei. Other EU countries have only begun to slowly change their attitudes.
In 1981, Italy gave China a $1.21 billion grant. Italian experts, helped build the Beijing Emergency Center, donated 42 highly-advanced ambulances.
The word “unforgettable” is used to describe Italy’s gesture. No exaggeration at all.
The virus outbreak in Italy is really serious.
There are more than 20,000 confirmed cases, with 368 patients’ deaths in a single day. The highest number in China is 252.
The outbreak is really difficult to control.
Italy approached the EU for help, but it is exactly the same as what happened in China. All the EU countries took a side view. Not even a single test kit.
Foreign Minister Wang Yi immediately telephoned Italy. His first sentence at the beginning was: “We will not forget the kindness of Italy.”
Immediately afterwards, China sent 100,000 masks, 20,000 sets of protective clothing, 50,000 test boxes, all rushed by
air transport. At that time there was nothing in Italy. As soon as these supplies arrived, they were overjoyed.
Following that, the first nine medical experts were rushed to Italy. Note, it’s the first batch. Further assistance will follow.
Of these nine experts, as many as 5 are from Sichuan, from Sichuan West China Hospital, one of the “Big Four” Chinese hospitals. The people of Sichuan sent its best experts to Italy. Shen Jian, director of the health committee, said, “We in Sichuan have never forgotten the kindness of Italy. We are going to repay this time.”
These experts include:
Professor Liang Zong’an, the national authority on respiratory diseases;
Ms. Tang Menglin, ICU intensive care specialist;
Professor Wenbin Tong, authority on microbial testing.
Shanghai Ruijin Hospital donated a full set of ICU equipment, changing the manual and operation interface into English.
Ruijin Hospital was so careful that even the electrical plugs have been changed to Italian specification.
An Italian netizen said emotionally: “When the epidemic is over, I want to embrace every Chinese.” In Naples, an
18-year-old girl called Aurora, drew a picture of herself and said: “This painting is dedicated to nurses, doctors. And those who came to help us from China. I hope they can see the battle on the front line.”
This scene, at such a dark moment, really warms people’s hearts! Although the peoples of the two countries are thousands of miles apart, their hearts are deeply connected.
Ma Yun’s message to Italy came from the Italian opera “Turandot”: “It disappears into the night! At dawn we will win!” Xiaomi posted the ancient Roman poet Seneca’s verse: “We are waves of the same sea, leaves on the same tree, flowers in the same garden.”
Yes, the virus is relentless. It doesn’t matter what race you are, what regime, which camp. When it appears, it is the enemy of all humanity. At this moment, countries around the world must help each other, overcome the difficulties together, & defeat the virus.
A spring breeze wafts through the country, willing to make things easier by dripping water. The Chinese are the people most grateful; we are good friends, no thanks are necessary. You are suffering at this moment.
Finally, to our Italian friends, we believe that the great love on earth will defeat the sickness. We are in the Chinese land thousands of miles away, waiting for good news.