Sing Haiming, Chinese Ambassador: "Korea showed brotherly affection during the COVID-19 crisis... We will not forget"

▲Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon (right) and Xing Haiming, Chinese Ambassador to Korea, shake hands in the mayor's office at Seoul City Hall on the 12th. Photo by Moon Ho-nam munonam@

[Asia Economy Reporter Kwon Jae-hee] Xing Haiming, the Chinese Ambassador to Korea, stated on the 17th that "the Chinese people will never forget the brotherly affection Korea showed during China's novel coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis."

Ambassador Xing made this remark in an article titled "Friendship Between Neighbors, Loyalty Among Friends" published in the Chinese Communist Party's official newspaper, the People's Daily, on the same day.

He said that his first mission after being appointed as the Chinese Ambassador to Korea was to contribute to the fight against COVID-19, adding, "When China faced difficulties for a moment, our close neighbor Korea firmly stood with the Chinese people."

Ambassador Xing expressed gratitude to President Moon Jae-in, Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon, former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, director Bong Joon-ho, and others for supporting China, noting that the Korean government, companies, and various figures helped China in many ways after the outbreak of COVID-19.

He emphasized, "The COVID-19 crisis reflected the nature of humanity like a mirror and tested the strength of friendship. Koreans showed a deep 'neighborly affection' like that of close brothers and the 'loyalty of friends' through shared hardships in the war against COVID-19."

Ambassador Xing added, "The Chinese people will deeply cherish this. The friendly tradition of mutual assistance between the two countries will be a great force in developing bilateral relations."

He continued, "If countries join hands and stand shoulder to shoulder, we will surely overcome COVID-19."