Ethiopia's new Ambassador to China Teshome Toga Chanaka Photo: Courtesy of the Ethiopian Embassy in China

Ethiopia's Ambassador to China refuted reports by Western media outlets claiming that Africans in China have faced discrimination because of the novel coronavirus.

Teshome Toga Chanaka told the Global Times in an exclusive interview that the year 2020 marks the Golden Jubilee of the establishment of formal diplomatic relations between China and Ethiopia, and they "have over the years forged strong partnership at all levels and in all sectors," which "was further enhanced during the fight against COVID-19."

"Both believe the victory over COVID-19 and post pandemic equally require global strategy and unity," he added.

He said that during the outbreak, there were over 4,000 African students in Wuhan, Central China's Hubei Province and it was the community in Wuhan, the university, and the city administrations and volunteers who cared for and supported African students.

"They were not discriminated because of their origins. There were many Africans who also lived in other parts of China as well during the spread of the various and not any sign of discrimination was reported," said the ambassador.

According to an AFP tally, a video started circulating on social media that purports to show a Kenyan couple involved in a fist fight with a Chinese couple in Wuhan, was later confirmed to be false. The incident occurred in the Bronx, New York City, in front of an Asian restaurant.

Chanaka said the recent incident in Guangzhou, South China's Guangdong Province was an unfortunate development, but it is a "localized one, which does not reflect the overall situation of Africans in China." 

Some media outlets tried to smear China-Africa relations and they claimed in early April that Africans living in Guangzhou have been badly treated and evicted from their houses when the city was in the midst of strict prevention against COVID-19.

Both sides vowed "to take appropriate measures that no such thing targeting Africans will happen and also agreed to jointly fight COVID-19," he added.

"From what we know about the virus it affects all humanity across the race. We need to fight the pandemic together as fellow human beings. We need to act soberly and reasonably… There is no need to react emotionally and in panic mood," said the ambassador.

The Ethiopian diplomat stated that China-Africa relation has shown progresses in political, economic, military, social and cultural aspects since the establishment of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) and BRI.

Responding to questions related to his impression on China's measures in the fight against the virus, the envoy told the Global Times that he has personally witnessed the national effort waged by China and the national coordination from the central government to the grassroots level.

The government, health workers, civilians, media, and other sectors of society have demonstrated to the world how to protect and control a national challenge, he noted.

"China has done its part in an unprecedented way. Its mobilization capability and the people's loyalty to comply with the directives of the government were extraordinary."

Chanaka stressed that it is the best lesson for Ethiopia and the rest of the world for them to learn from China's experience and apply the knowledge to their situation.