NCPA Co-organised Online Forum on Overseas Chinese in the Fight against COVID-19
On the morning of 24 April 2020, Tsinghua University's Center for Chinese Entrepreneurs Studies and China Institute for Chinese Overseas Studies jointly hosted an online forum on how overseas Chinese in Southeast Asia are managing the impact of COVID-19 and their involvement in the battle against the pandemic. The forum was co-organised by NCPA, Tsinghua Southeast Asia Centre and Oversea Chinese Charity Foundation of China. Mr Du Zhiqiang, President of Tianfu Association; Dr Hu Yishan, President of the Sabah Malaysia-China Friendship Association; and Professor Liu Yu, School of Public Affairs and Administration, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, and Visiting Scholar of NCPA, were invited to speak at the forum.
Mr Zhang Chunwang, Director of China Institute for Chinese Overseas Studies and Vice President of the Overseas Chinese History Society of China, addressed the event. Professor Liu Hong, Director of NCPA and Tan Lark Sye Chair Professor of Public Policy and Global Affairs; and Professor Long Denggao, Director of Tsinghua University Center for Chinese Entrepreneur Studies, were the moderators of the forum. Experts, scholars and speakers shared and discussed actively on various topics, including post-pandemic international relations and Sino-US relations.
Mr Du Zhiqiang spoke on how the COVID-19 has brought tremendous pressure to the entire Singaporean society and how the Chinese community in Singapore responded to the challenges of the pandemic. Professor Liu Yu summarised the development of COVID-19 in Singapore in three stages—the discovery of the first case in January, putting in place initial control measures in February and March and enforcing intense and coordinated action following an outbreak in April. Dr Hu Yishan shared on the COVID-19 situation in Malaysia and how local Chinese business leaders are responding to the pandemic.
In his remarks regarding Singapore's approach to combating COVID-19, Professor Liu Hong pointed out that the Government of Singapore has adopted a holistic approach in tackling the pandemic, involving all the ministers in various departments which include the Ministry of Health, Ministry of National Development, Ministry of Manpower, Ministry of Education, etc. The Government's multi-pronged strategy also includes relief measures for businesses and individuals and ensuring the welfare of foreign workers are looked after. He noted that the donations by overseas Chinese to China help promotion relations between China and Southeast Asian countries. Professor Liu also feels that COVID-19 is a major challenge and touchstone for ASEAN regional integration. ASEAN should coordinate more closely, strengthen the role of regional alliances, and jointly tackle common challenges, including public health issues.
Nearly 200 scholars, experts, entrepreneurs and students from China, Singapore, Malaysia and other countries and regions participated in the online meeting, including Professor Li Minghuan, President of the Academy of Overseas Chinese Studies; Zhang Xiuming, Deputy Director of the China Institute for Chinese Overseas Studies; Professor Zhang Zhenjiang, Dean of the School of International Relations, Jinan University (JNU); Professor Chen Yiping, Vice Dean of the School of International Relations, JNU; Professor Wang Nianyong, Zhongnan University of Economics and Law; Professor Diao Li, Wuhan University; and Professor Lai Chi-Kong, The University of Queensland.
