The unprecedented scale and pace of China's efforts in fighting the novel coronavirus outbreak has been increasingly appreciated by the international community. Many countries have expressed sympathy while also extending medical assistance as China intensifies its battle against the epidemic.

Now, young professionals and students from the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) countries have voiced their solidarity with China and also expressed confidence that the country will come out of this crisis better than ever.

"We are with you China! In these times when strength is tested, all of us – either remaining in China or based abroad – want to remind you that you are not alone," the SCOLAR Network, a Beijing-based association representing the SCO youths, said in a written statement sent to CGTN Digital.

"China has shown us an example of resilience and unity in the face of the unknown, and scientific community worldwide is working relentlessly to help their Chinese colleagues find the vaccine to the virus as soon as possible. We believe that Wuhan and other cities in China will come out of this crisis better than ever!" it added.

SCOLAR also released a video message with several of its members pledging their support for China. The SCO Secretariat posted the video on its official website Friday. 

Additionally, the SCO youth platform released a letter – in Chinese, Russian and English – lauding the spirit of the Chinese people in the face of the mysterious outbreak that caused hundreds of deaths, mostly in Wuhan, the epicenter of the epidemic, and left tens of thousands infected. 

"However dire the times with the novel coronavirus, what we know for sure, is that the Chinese nation has the most relentless and optimistic people. History has proved that there isn't a difficulty that China hadn't overcome and, today, we see countless heroes in Wuhan and through the country who are risking their own lives to save others," the youth group said in the letter signed by SCOLAR founders Olim Alimov and Victoria Khu.

"Doctors, nurses, law enforcement, government officials, and many others are the inspiration to the entire world. We express our condolences to the deceased and pray for the fast recovery for the sick," it added.

Chinese and Russian are the official languages of the SCO, a Eurasian political, economic and security alliance that has China, India, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Pakistan as its full members. In addition, Afghanistan, Belarus, Iran and Mongolia have observer status while six countries, namely Armenia, Azerbaijan, Cambodia, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Turkey, are on board as dialogue partners.

Describing the ongoing situation as a "historic challenge for China", SCOLAR reiterated its commitment and support for the country, assured in the belief that the government will successfully eliminate the virus.

"We, the young people, clutch our hands, bond our hearts, and combine our efforts with you to get through these trials and tribulations. We are in this fight together! We are confident that under the leadership of President Xi [Jinping] and the Chinese government, this novel menace will be forever eradicated," it said in the multilingual letter.