by Dana Halawi

BEIRUT, May 14 (Xinhua) -- "China has become a part of me," said Adham Sayed, a 33-year-old Lebanese author, when describing what China means to him and the time he spent in Wuhan, the capital city of central China's Hubei Province.

Sayed, who started to study in Wuhan in 2015 and recently graduated, didn't leave the Chinese city even when it was in the throes of the COVID-19 pandemic at the end of 2019.

"I had beautiful days with the people in Wuhan. They offered me security, science and a job. How can I leave them in bad times?" Sayed told Xinhua.

When COVID-19 broke out in Wuhan, he recorded live videos from inside the city and posted them on social media to show the measures adopted by Chinese authorities to fight against the pandemic.

He later published a book, titled "Confidence Comes from Effectiveness: A Foreigner's Wuhan Diary" in China and its Arabic version in Lebanon.

In his book, Sayed related how China had managed to control the spread of the pandemic and how people protected themselves from getting infected.

"It's great to see that the Chinese implemented serious and strict measures to fight against the pandemic which enabled them to reactivate their economy all over again," he said.

Sayed was impressed by China's capacity to fight against COVID-19, emphasizing the great help offered by the government to the people in Wuhan.

"The Chinese government has, for instance, offered people in Wuhan subsidized food products to help residents sustain lockdown periods amid absence of work and income," he said.

As for students who stayed at universities during lockdown, they were offered free meals, Sayed added.

"China has succeeded in its fight against the pandemic because it puts people's health first," he said.

Sayed believes that Wuhan should serve as an example of how to succeed in controlling the pandemic and returning back to a normal life.

"Life is totally normal in Wuhan today. We are free to attend occasions. What we have to do is wear masks in closed areas only," Sayed said.

Sayed has now graduated with a doctorate in Quantitative Economics from Huazhong University of Science and Technology in Wuhan.

The young man will start soon with his new job as an assistant professor of Economics at Zhejiang Gongshang University in Hangzhou, capital of east China's Zhejiang Province.

"What is great about China is that you can plan your life and the government has strategies which can help you feel secure while supporting you in achieving your dreams," he said.

Before coming to the country, "I only knew a few things about China just like other people, but I wanted to learn more about the country. When I came here I went into a lot more details about its history and culture," said Sayed, who is also a member of the Communist Party of Lebanon.

Sayed added that he likes the serious approach adopted by the Chinese population in implementing projects and strategies in a timely manner.

"I have witnessed the rapid development of this city and country, especially in high-speed trains," he said.

Respect for others and freedom of expression are among the other things that explain Sayed's attachment to China in general, and Wuhan in particular.

"I have the freedom to express my opinion as long as I respect the country's rules and regulations," said Sayed.

He added that the Chinese people respect foreigners and they are happy to receive them in the country.

"Wuhan's universities, for instance, host thousands of foreign students yearly," he said. Enditem

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