The outbreak of novel coronavirus in China has attracted world attention recently. The World Health Organization has declared the outbreak a public health emergency of international concern.

In the face of such a massive and sudden coronavirus outbreak, the Afghan people have expressed deep sympathy and support for the Chinese people. The students and teachers of the Confucius Institute at Kabul University (CIKU) are very concerned about China and have been following the development of the epidemic closely. On February 12, 2020, the students and teachers of the Chinese Department of CIKU gathered together to cheer for China’s fight against the epidemic.  

Dr. Muhammad Aslam Naseemi, Dean of Language and Literature Faculty at Kabul University, delivered a speech on behalf of Kabul University. He praised highly the China-Afghanistan relations by saying that China is a true friend of Afghanistan. And he shared the sufferings China had endured and was fully sympathetic to the Chinese friends.

Speaking on behalf of the Confucius Institute, Mohammad Yousuf Rahnaward, the Afghan Executive Director of CIKU, said that China is the most important neighbor and friend of Afghanistan. At critical moments in the past, China has always extended a helping hand to Afghanistan. He called on teachers and students to take actions, open their hearts and voice their sympathy, gratitude, blessings and support to China and the Chinese people.

With the music of “A World Filled with Love " and “A Better tomorrow” in the background, teachers and students of CIKU each expressed their own blessings to China in their own way.

In the end, the teachers and students lined up neatly. Led by the Afghan teacher Wang Xi, they sent their blessings to China in unison, cheering for Wuhan and China! The loud and sincere blessings resounded through the hall.

Mr. Wei Guoqiang, the Chinese Dean of CIKU and associate professor of TYUT, quoting a line from an ancient Chinese poetry that “fear not the want of armor, for mine is also yours to wear”, said that he felt keenly the true feelings of the Afghan people to the Chinese people through this activity. He expressed his gratitude to the Afghan students and teachers for giving support to China.

Over 50 students and teachers of CIKU took part in this activity.