China Observes Day of Mourning amid Pandemic.

TIRANA – Numerous ceremonies and other remembrance events were organized on Saturday’s National Mourning Day throughout China as its people and their leaders mourned the lives lost to the coronavirus outbreak in the country. It coincided with China’s Tomb-sweeping Day, known as the Qingming Festival, an important occasion for the Chinese to visit cemeteries, sweeping tombs and mourning their ancestors.

According to official evidence, 81,639 confirmed cases with CCOVID-19 had been reported on the Chinese mainland, with 3,326 deaths. The World Health Organization has recently said that global coronavirus cases have topped over 1 million, with more than 50,000 deaths.

The 1.4bn Chinese nation paused for three minutes on Saturday, according to a report by Xinhua news agency. A large number of media outlets throughout the world covered the event with news and extensive reports.

As China paused in silence to mourn the lives lost to the coronavirus outbreak, President Xi Jinping led the national mourning, which paid tribute to martyrs who sacrificed their lives fighting the outbreak and fellow Chinese who died. In Beijing flags were lowered to half-staff.

Saturday’s National Mourning Day was also marked In Tirana by the Chinese Embassy which flew the national flag at half mast and extended deepest condolences to those who lost their lives in the fight against COVID-19 in a message on Twitter which reads as following: “On China’s traditional Tomb-Sweeping (Qind Ming) and today’s National Mourning Day, we extend our deepest condolences to the deceased heroes and all those who have lost their precious lives in the fight against COVID-19.”

Saturday was also China’s Tomb-sweeping Day, known as the Qingming Festival, an important occasion for the Chinese to visit cemeteries, sweeping tombs and mourning their ancestors.

Bidding farewell as a nation in massive mourning ceremonies across China people conveyed also the message that they who are alive should stay strong as the battle continues.

China’s solidarity with the stricken countries from COVID-19 expands has stepped up even in these hard times. It has provided assistance to 89 countries and four international organizations to fight against the novel coronavirus, according to official estimations. Chinese medical workers and supplies have been sent among others to 16 European countries, including Albania.

A few days ago Chinese medical aid arrived also in Albania which was coordinated by the Chinese Embassy. “These are the first medical materials China donates to Albania for the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, which shows the friendly feeling of the Chinese people towards the Albanian people,” said the Embassy, which has assured that further assistance will be delivered soon.

In the meantime Albania has extended its gratitude for the Chinese aid at these testing times. “This is not just a donation in these difficult moments, but also a generous gesture of a great country and with an even greater heart. Endless thanks and gratitude to the Chinese government for the care shown to the Albanian people,” said a statement released by Albania’s Institute of Public Health on March 31./argumentum.al