Over the past weeks, in response to the COVID-19 epidemic, USTB has received an outpouring of solidarity and support from its partners all over the world. In letters and videos addressed to Prof. YANG Renshu, President of USTB, leaders and representatives from our partners such as RWTH Aachen University, Germany, the University of California, Santa Barbara, USA, the University of California, Los Angeles, USA, the Asian Institute of Technology, Thailand, Chaoyang University of Technology, Taiwan, China, Chinese Culture University, Taiwan, China, Chuo University, Japan, Swansea University, UK, the University of Dundee, UK, and the University of British Columbia, Canada, expressed their well-wishes to the students, faculty and staff of USTB.

Prof. Ulrich Rüdiger, Rector of RWTH Aachen University, expressed his deep concern for the Chinese people as well as the faculty and students of USTB. He showed how closely he had been following the development of the coronavirus, expressing his admiration for the efforts of the Chinese people to combat the virus and extending his sincere sympathy to the infected and deceased. He also indicated his belief that hope would triumph over fear and science would have mastery over uncertainty, leading to the inevitable victory over the coronavirus. RWTH stands firmly together with USTB and aims to help those Chinese students and scholars who were unable to pursue a planned exchange with RWTH during this period.

Prof. Eden Woon, President of the Asian Institute of Technology, expressed his strong belief that the concerted efforts of the Chinese people would assure victory in the fight against the epidemic, and gave his assurances that the faculty and staff of his institution stand with USTB to overcome this challenge.

Prof. ZHENG Daoming, President of Chaoyang University of Technology, spoke of the united and concerted effort being made across the strait to address the spread of the virus from the mainland. During the suspension of exchanges between the two universities, Chaoyang University of Technology has continued to work closely with USTB. Prof. ZHENG Daoming extended his wishes for the continued health and safety of the people on both sides of the strait and that our two universities would continue to combat the virus confidently together.

Prof. Tadahiko Fukuhara, President of Chuo University, expressed his university’s support for USTB and its students, saying that Chuo University would work to support those students unable to engage in exchange programs in the near future.

Ms. Leanne Kearns, Director of the Vancouver Summer Program, University of British Columbia, expressed similar support and offered her assistance to USTB leadership in regards to ensuring its students could actively participate in the Vancouver Summer Program when possible.

Prof. Robert York, Dean of the University of California, Santa Barbara, said that the faculty and students of USTB are always in the thoughts of both himself and those of his institution. He then expressed his admiration for the fighting spirit of the Chinese people, and his anticipation of when students would once again be free to study at UCSB.

From the University of California, Los Angeles, our university also received the support its staff and a hearty 中国加油 (Go China!).

From the UK, USTB received letters of praise and support from two of its close partners.

Prof. Paul Boyle, Swansea University, spoke of his university’s efforts to help those Chinese staff and students who were presently at Swansea, providing them support and ensuring they followed isolation protocols just as those back in China are as well.

Meanwhile, the University of Dundee China Office, assured Prof. YANG that their office would continue to offer its support to USTB and its people during the epidemic period, while helping to adjust their admissions policies to better assist students in pursuing exchanges with Dundee in the future.

In light of the grim epidemic that has encompassed China and spread around the world, these letters of solidarity demonstrate that USTB and China are not alone in the struggle. While the students, faculty and staff of USTB work together to prevent the spread of the epidemic, the university’s partners from home and abroad are also working to ensure that we will ultimately triumph together over the coronavirus and emerge stronger as a result.