China vows equal treatment for Africans over Covid-19

Bloomberg

China rejected criticism about the alleged mistreatment of Africans by authorities in the southern city of Guangzhou, a dispute that could set back Beijing’s diplomatic outreach to help the continent cope with the coronavirus pandemic.
The government has treated foreigners equally and attaches great importance to their life and health, Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman Zhao Lijian said in a statement posted.
“We reject differential treatment, and we have zero tolerance for discrimination,” Zhao said.
African leaders alleged discrimination against their citizens by city authorities in measures to stem the spread of imported coronavirus cases, saying Africans were mistreated, evicted from hotels, and forcefully tested for the virus. Meanwhile, McDonalds China apologised after one of the chain’s Guangzhou restaurants refused to serve African customers.
African Union Commission Chairman Moussa Faki Mahamat expressed “extreme concern” to Chinese Ambassador Liu Yuxi about “allegations of maltreatment of Africans” in Guangzhou. In a tweet, he said the African Group in Beijing was engaging with the Chinese government.
South Africa, the current African Union chair, separately expressed concern about “alleged ill-treatment of African nationals in China, including the forceful testing, quarantining for Covid-19, and other inhuman treatment.”
The country called for an investigation into the matter, according to a statement from
the South African Department of International Relations and Cooperation.
McDonald’s China said that it had closed a restaurant in Guangzhou for a half day of
diversity and inclusion training after an investigation confirmed social media reports that it was barring African
customers.
“We apologise unreservedly to the individual and our customers. The restaurant has been ordered to stop immediately such actions,” McDonald’s China said.
The episode underscores the complexity of Beijing’s challenge to manage the fallout from a disease first discovered in December in the central Chinese city of Wuhan. China has dispatched medical supplies and shared expert advice to assist Africa, where Beijing’s fiscal and infrastructure support has long been a source of both praise and criticism.
China and Africa are “good friends, partners and brothers,” Zhao said in the statement. He added that their relationship was “time-tested” and noted that China had provided medical assistance and essential supplies to help African countries fight Covid-19.
Guangdong authorities will improve their health management services, such as designating hotels for medical observations, adjusting prices for those in financial difficulties and setting up effective communication mechanisms, Zhao said.