Book from China on COVID-19 to guide Nepalese leadership

Over 200 units of the book alongside a letter from the Chinese embassy were delivered to all high-level officials, ministers and influential people in Kathmandu 

New Delhi:  While the world continues to press an international probe against China on its mishandling of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, Beijing’s leadership is set to tutor Nepal on lessons of how to successfully handle the outbreak.

After raking the border issue with India at Beijing’s behest, the Nepalese leadership is set to get indoctrinated in lessons to handle the infection via a book based on the first-hand experience of responding to the COVID-19 pandemic in China. 

According to government sources, a book titled ‘Wuhan in Coronavirus Lockdown: Stories of Courage and Determination’ published in Nepalese language will be distributed to ministers, leaders, government officials, entrepreneurs, among other prominent figures in Kathmandu. Over 200 units of the book published by the Makalu Publication House were purchased by the Nepal Overseas Chinese Business Association (NOCBA) and presented to the Nepalese leadership on 23 May. 

According to a Chinese state media report, the book was first presented to Nepalese Ambassador to China Mahendra Bahadur Pandey, who reportedly was the exponent of the literature to be a guiding force for Kathmandu in its fight against the pandemic. The report quoted Pandey saying ‘I learned about many things like how COVID-19 was first seen in China, how the authorities imposed lockdown in Wuhan and how residents supported, hospital construction in a short span of time, the role of health professionals and frontline workers, as well as the preventive and control measures of the government.” 

He added that ‘It really reflects the determination of the government and courage of Chinese people to fight against the virus. It is important to implement those learned lessons.’ The Nepalese diplomat was even quoted of recommending the boom for western countries, who are gunning against China for its mishandling of the outbreak. 

Beijing also claimed that the publisher of the book advocated its content to provide various aspects of infection, including the technique of intervention, the measures of curtailing it from the experience of Chinese people to Nepalese policymakers. Sources in Kathmandu said that, copies of the book were delivered to all ministers, high-level officials, and policymakers alongside a letter from the Chinese embassy in Kathmandu. 

Last week, Nepal joined the ranks of Pakistan, Sri Lanka, the Maldives, and Afghanistan for not having signed on the draft resolution seeking an inquiry on the World Health Organization on its failure to handle the outbreak.