May the world peaceful and people healthy

[Democratic People’s Republic of Korea] Yu Jin U, Dongbei University of Finance and Economics

The rampant COVID-19 has greatly impacted the economy of many countries and lives of many people in the past three years. In this anti-pandemic war, I, an international student in China, have witnessed the effectiveness of dynamic zero-COVID policy of Chinese government, CPC’s promise to put people’s safety first, as well as numerous ordinary people’s sacrifices. All these have shocked me and convinced me that Chinese government could bring us safety. I couldn’t help falling in love with China and the city of Dalian due to the achievements of the Chinese government and Chinese people have made.

Confronting the worsening pandemic, many countries adopted a “lie flat” policy and did nothing, which may reduce the negative impact on economy but pay the price of many ordinary people’s lives. Since March of 2022, though being strictly controlled, there were sporadic cases in Dalian. Once the first confirmed case reported, the Dalian municipal government would immediately take measures to cut the spread of the virus. Numerous policemen, medical workers and ordinary people guarded this city in their own ways. Take the example of Dongbei University of Finance and Economics (DUFE) where I studied, once the coronavirus was found at Dalian, DUFE would organize nucleic acid testing and promptly took necessary measures as well to cut the spread of virus. Besides, the university authorities have made every effort to keep foods and basic medical services as usual. University and college officials, teachers, logistic staffs all took their responsibilities to provide students with a safe and comfortable studying and living environment.

In this invisible war, there have emerged countless civilian heroes. Medical workers, dubbed as “Baymax,” who are dressed in the white windtight medical protection suits and soaked with sweat, have organized nucleic acid testing for tens of thousands of DUFE students. Many of our teachers, who acted as food delivery men, helped deliver meals to students in quarantine. And some university officials had to stay at office for one month or more to maintain the normal operation of the university.

Now the pandemic situation in Dalian is relatively stable again and the normal life has been resumed. But there is no such thing as a good time, it’s just the result of many people’s painstaking efforts. We should keep one eye open since the pandemic is not over yet. As young students, we should take our responsibility in the pandemic protection and control, protect ourselves well, exercise regularly and develop good habits.

Observing from the viewpoint of an international student, I have seen a humane China. When going back to the homeland, I would share my experiences with others so that they would understand China more deeply and fall in love with the nation.
In the end, I hope an early end of the pandemic and a sooner resumption of people’s normal life. May the world peaceful and people healthy.

The story is from "My Beautiful Encounter with China" Essay Competition organized by the Chinese Service Center for Scholarly Exchanges (CSCSE).