At a press conference held by China's State Council Information Office on Thursday, senior government officials addressed the safety concerns of overseas Chinese students amid the spread of the global COVID-19 pandemic.

Concerns with the safety of Chinese students studying abroad have been growing as most overseas study destinations are now hit by the coronavirus far worse than China. Xinhua News Agency reported on Tuesday that at least 35 overseas Chinese students had been diagnosed with the disease, furthering cementing the apprehensions. 

China's Vice Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu said the Foreign Ministry asked over 280 Chinese embassies and consulates to prioritize their work in tending Chinese students, and corresponding arrangements have been swiftly rolled out. In what Ma called a "boxing combo," consulates have been keeping hotlines open 24 hours for Chinese students and sharing useful information with them through social media. 

The Chinese Embassy in Germany, for instance, has mobilized 85 student associations to create 101 WeChat groups, and the total number of members in these groups has reached about 35,000, Ma said.

Distribution of 'health packages'

Due to the severe shortage of face masks and other essential supplies across the world, consulates have been trying their best to distribute "health packages" to Chinese students. Many of the items included in the "health packages" either came from the consulates' reserves or out of diplomats' own pockets, Ma said. "The embassy in the UK, for example, has prepared 200,000 'health packages' for Chinese students."

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will prioritize the distribution of "health packages" and send additional 500,000 "health packages," including over 11 million face masks, 500,000 sterilization supplies and virus prevention manuals, Ma added. 

China also arranged nine chartered planes in March to bring back 1,457 Chinese nationals, including overseas students, Ma said. 

State of Chinese students abroad

According to Ma, the situation of overseas Chinese students could be explained in the following four points:

Firstly, the overall number of these students is huge, about 1.6 million, with 1.4 million still remaining abroad. 

Secondly, they are scattered around the world, with 410,000 in the U.S., 230,000 in Canada, 220,000 in the UK, 110,000 in Germany and France, 280,000 in New Zealand and Australia, and 180,000 in Japan and South Korea. 

Thirdly, the countries where they study are in different stages of the outbreak, meaning the containment measures taken by respective governments could also be different. 

Fourthly, students are also under different circumstances and have varying demands. 

Based on these realities, Ma said the Chinese government will tailor corresponding arrangements for overseas students facing different situations. He noted that instead of rushing back home, most of them chose to stay where they are. 

He also praised students' compliance with authorities' calls to refrain from travelling and confine themselves to their apartments – a choice which could reduce the risks of contracting the virus, avoid being stranded in a transit country due to containment measures, and avert the potential repercussions on their student visas. But for those who are in dire need of returning to China, Ma said the Chinese government will try its best to bring them home in a phase-wise and orderly manner.

Liaison with schools

As a large number of schools and universities have been closed due to the outbreak, many students are struggling to complete their studies on time.

China's Vice Education Minister Tian Xuejun, who was also at the conference, said the Education Ministry, with the assistance of consulates, reached out to schools right after they were closed. Communication between these universities and the Education Ministry has been frequent, Tian said, making sure that arrangements for the Chinese students have been proper. 

According to Tian, some overseas schools had previously forced students to move out of their dormitories, which immediately prompted consulates and the ministry to begin engagement with these schools. Most cases were adequately settled. Some consulates have also set up backup quarantine sites in case students need them.

(Cover image: Chinese government officials attend a press conference held by China's State Council Information Office to address the safety of overseas Chinese students amid the spread of the global COVID-19 pandemic, April, 2, 2020. /Xinhua)