中文版

The city of Manchester has a long-standing relationship with Wuhan via its sister-city relationship and has developed deeper connections throughout China over the last 30 years. Since 1986, Manchester and Wuhan have been working in partnership on a number of strategic initiatives including trade, cultural and educational partnerships. As Wuhan battles the coronavirus outbreak, Manchester pulls together to support its sister-city through this difficult time.

Greater Manchester Combined Authorities, Manchester City council, Manchester China Forum and many institutions acted immediately in launching official platforms to facilitat donations of supplies after hearing about the shortages of medical supplies faced by hospitals in Wuhan and other cities in China. Manchester Airport promptly opened up freight and transportation routes to mainland China. Cathay Pacific flew to Wuhan carrying medical supplies donated by local community in Greater Manchester. UK-Radic8 and UK-Medu jointly supported Wuhan by donating VirusKiller clean air equipment. Chinese Students and Scholars Association-Manchester collected and donated 1,500 protective gown, 200 goggles, 1249 face shield. As of 7 March, 5.5-million-yuan donation was made from local community in Greater Manchester with the majority of medical supplies successfully reaching China already: 555 boxes in total, weighing over 5 tons.

On 13 February, Chinese Consul General in Manchester, Xiyuan Zheng and Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, held a press conference on the coronavirus outbreak in Manchester Chinatown. (Source: Chinese Consulate General in Manchester)

Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, and leader of Manchester Council, Sir Richard Leese sent letters with best wishes to Wuhan government and leaders. On 13 February, Chinese Consul General in Manchester, Xiyuan Zheng and Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, held a press conference on the coronavirus outbreak in Manchester Chinatown. Mayor Burnham said the city, known for its openness, inclusiveness, solidarity and friendliness, needs to lend a helping hand to firmly support Chinese ethnic group. He stressed that no label should be put to the virus as the outbreak could happen anywhere, and the city has zero-tolerance for any form of discrimination, abuse and stigmatization. Rhys Whalley, Executive Director of the Manchester China Forum, spoke at his Beijing Review interview that the sisterhood between Wuhan and Manchester nurtures special attention, deep sympathy and hopefully meaningful support from business partners in Manchester to friends in Wuhan.

There are more than 10,000 Chinese students studying in Greater Manchester with more than 6,000 of them studying at the University of Manchester (‘the University’), making it the largest population of Chinese students in Europe. Professor Dame Nancy Rothwell, President and Vice-Chancellor of The University of Manchester, wrote in her letter to Consul General Zheng Xiyuan that the University is doing everything possible to ensure the safety and health of staff and students, especially Chinese nationals during the current situation. “Our thoughts and prayers are also with colleagues in our partner universities in China, especially those in Wuhan,” said Professor Dame Nancy Rothwell. On 4 February, message from Professor Dame Nancy Rothwell, President and Vice-Chancellor of The University of Manchester was communicated out bilingually on China Centre’s official platform to ask that University community acts together in supporting each other through this difficult time. On 14 February, Peter Gries, Director of the Manchester China Institute and Professor of Chinese politics at the University pointed out hostile environment and exclusionary behaviors experienced by Chinese community abroad in writing ‘Pathogens and Prejudice. Will the coronavirus infect our community?’, appealed for compassion over prejudice.

Sherry Fu, Director of University of Manchester China Centre (‘China Centre’) returned to work amid widening coronavirus outbreak with a continuous effort in communicating and coordinating with Manchester team and overseas centres: adjusting workshop arragements for overseas students and encouraging Chinese alumni and Centre staff to show support for Wuhan and the rest of China however they can. On 26 February, China Centre announced via its WeChat account the official adjustments arranged for academic workshop to be held in Shanghai, Hong Kong, Singapore and Dubai in addition to online arrangements for webinar and industry talks to minimize the impact of Covid-19 on students. China Centre promptly reports and shows alumni’s support and action taken in the fight against the epidemic via official and social media platform to demonstrate their love. Students learning Chinese at the University of Manchester recorded a greeting video and those at Coop Academy Swinton wrote wishes in Chinese calligraphy to support for Wuhan, Manchester’s sister-city.

A friend in need is a friend indeed as people in Manchester stand firmly with people in Wuhan at this special moment, promoting a firm belief in a longer and stronger sisterhood between Manchester and Wuhan, between people in the UK and China.

Source: Chinese Consulate General in Manchester, Beijing Review, University of Manchester