MARCH 26, 2020

An Open Letter to the People of the United States
from 100 Chinese Scholars

Dear American friends:

We are a group of 100 Chinese scholars representing diverse academic fields including philosophy, political science, economics, medicine, international relations, sociology, law, communication, military science, and technology. Our members include a number of university professors from Wuhan. While our areas of expertise are diverse, as intellectuals we all share a common desire to express our concerns about the well-being of all people in China, the U.S., and every country on Earth.

Recently, we have heard many critical voices politicizing the COVID-19 pandemic. Facing the most dangerous infectious disease in a century, these criticisms help neither China, the U.S., nor the world to curb the spread of the virus. Political bickering does nothing to contribute to the healthy development of Sino-U.S. relations, nor will it help the people of the world to rationally and accurately understand and cope with the pandemic. We want to sincerely and frankly share our views with our American friends today.

The COVID-19 pandemic is a global public health crisis with a horrific scale not seen in generations; the effort to overcome both it and its impact will be nothing short of a long-term and arduous global war. Countries should be working together, not complaining, finger pointing, and blaming one another. The virus does not know any borders, but neither does love, nor friendship. As two of the great countries on Earth, cooperation between China and the U.S. could, and should, be used to bring a more positive outcome for all humankind.

Respecting science, cherishing life, and protecting people from harm should be our shared goals in the fight against COVID-19. The COVID-19 outbreak in China is now basically under control. Since the virus first emerged in early January, the Chinese people have made unimaginable efforts and sacrifices to achieve hard-won results.

We are grateful for the support of the international community, including donations from American friends, during the most critical stage of the fight. We respect the epidemic containment programs and policies implemented by other countries according to their own national conditions, and we are willing to share our experiences with other countries and provide all available assistance to them.

At this stage of the pandemic, the exact source and origin of COVID-19 remain undetermined, but these questions are unimportant and finger pointing is demeaning and hurtful to everyone. In the end we will all respect the final determination of scientists. Like many other countries, China is a victim of the virus, but also a success story overcoming it, and it is willing to work with people of other countries to stop the spread of the pandemic.

We sincerely hope to cooperate with the international community, including intellectuals and experts from the U.S. that look forward to a brighter future. We look forward to the time when doctrines of international cooperation once again flourish around the world. We call on all nations to work together in sincere cooperation to defeat this common enemy of humanity.

Hopefully, we soon will be able to celebrate the final victory over COVID-19!

Signed by:

Bao Qiting, Dean of Beijing Minsheng Big Data Research Institute

Cai Jiahe, Professor of the Johns Hopkins University-Nanjing University Center for Chinese and American Studies

Cao Wenlian, Vice President of China Society of Economic Reform

Chen Dingding, Associate Dean, Institute for Belt and Road Initiative and Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area

Chen Dongxiao, President of Shanghai Institutes for International Studies (SIIS)

Chen Jing, Vice President of Technology and Strategy Research Institute

Chen Qi, Director of Tsinghua Center for U.S.-China Relations

Chen Zhongyang, Professor of School of Finance, Renmin University of China

Chen Wuyuan, Executive Vice President of “The Belt and Road” Research School, Xiamen University (XMU)

Chen Yunsong, Director of the Johns Hopkins University-Nanjing University Center for Chinese and American Studies

Cui Xiaojing, Professor of School of Law, Wuhan University

Da Wei, Professor of University of International Relations

Diao Daming, Associate Professor of School of International Studies, Renmin University of China

Ding Gang, Senior Editor with People’s Daily, Senior Fellow of Chongyang Institute for Financial Studies, Renmin University of China

Ding Xuankai, Research Fellow of Chinese Think Tank Studies and Evaluation Center, Nanjing University

Dong Xuebing, Executive Vice Director of China Academy of West Region Development, Zhejiang University

Du Zhizhang, Vice Dean of the Institute of State Governance, Huazhong University of Science and Technology

Fang Changping, Deputy Dean of School of International Studies, Renmin University of China

Fang Xingdong, Founder of ChinaLabs

Feng Leiming, Dean of the “Belt and Road” Tianjin Strategic Research Institute, Tianjin Foreign Studies University

Feng Xi, President of Future Business School

Gao Jian, Secretary-General of Academy for Global Governance and Area Studies

Gao Qiqi, Dean of Political Science Institute, East China University of Political Science and Law

Guo Wanda, Executive Vice President of China Development Institute

He Hui, Professor of Beijing Foreign Studies University

He Maochun, Director of Research Center for Economic Diplomacy, Tsinghua University

He Weiwen, Senior Fellow of Chongyang Institute for Financial Studies, Renmin University of China

Huang Dahui, Deputy Dean of School of International Studies, Renmin University of China

Huang Jing, Academic Dean of Academy of International and Regional Studies, Beijing Language and Culture University

Huang Renwei, Former Vice President and Research Fellow of Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences

Huang Rihan, Assistant to the Dean of School of International Relations, Huaqiao University

Hu Wei, President of the Shanghai Society of Public Policy

Jiang An, Professor of School of Humanities and Social Sciences, Shenzhen University

Jia Jinjing, Assistant Dean of Chongyang Institute for Financial Studies, Renmin University of China

Jia Min, Associate Research Fellow, School of Advanced International and Area Studies of East China Normal University

Jia Wenshan, Distinguished Professor of Shandong University

Kong Xinfeng, Vice President of the Institute of State Governance, Shandong University

Lan Weiqing, Chief Expert of Urban Governance Research Center of Zhejiang Province

Li Gang, Professor of School of Information Management, Nanjing University

Li Guodong, Dean of School of Marxism, Yantai University

Li Mu, Dean of School of Law, Humanities and Sociology, Wuhan University of Technology

Liang Shuanglu, Dean of School of Economics (School of Accounting), Yunnan University

Lin Chenghua, Vice Director of Institute of Science and Technology Management, Zhejiang University

Lin Danming, Professor of Shantou University

Liu Feng, Director of Philippine Research Center, Hainan Normal University

Liu Haiming, Professor of School of Journalism and Communication, Chongqing University

Liu Yang, Advisory committee member of CITIC Foundation for Reform and Development Studies

Liu Zhiqin, Former Chief Representative in Beijing Office of Zurich Cantonal Bank; Senior Fellow of Chongyang Institute for Financial Studies, Renmin University of China

Long Xingchun, Professor of School of Foreign Languages, China West Normal University

Lu Shanbing, Dean of Institute of Silk Road Studies, Northwest University

Luo Liangqing, Chair Professor of Statistics, Jiangxi University of Finance and Economics

Mei Xinyu, Research Fellow of Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation, Ministry of Commerce

Ouyang Kang, Dean of the Institute of State Governance, Huazhong University of Science and Technology

Pu Yongjian, Vice Director of Development Research Center, Chongqing University

Pan Qingzhong, Executive Dean, Schwarzman College, Tsinghua University

Qin An, Director of the Internet Policy and Law Research Center, Tianjing University Law School

Shi Zhiqin, Professor of Department of International Relations, Tsinghua University

Su Hao, Professor of China Foreign Affairs University

Chu Yin, Professor of University of International Relations, Vice Dean of DE Think Tank

Chu Zhaogen, Director of BRI and Non-traditional Security Research Center, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University (ZSTU)

Sun Wen, Vice Director of the Johns Hopkins University-Nanjing University Center for Chinese and American Studies

Sun Xiaomeng, Professor of Beijing Foreign Studies University

Song Luzheng, Researcher of China Institute, Fudan University

Tang Renwu, President of School of Government, Beijing Normal University

Tu Xinquan, Dean of China Institute for WTO Studies, University of International Business and Economics

Xing Liju, Professor of Institute of International Studies, Fudan University

Xu Erming, Dean of Business School, Shantou University

Xu Ning, Assistant to the Dean of Yangtze Industrial Economic Institute

Yao Shujie, Deputy Director of Faculty of Social Sciences, Chongqing University

Yi Peng, President of Pangoal Institution

Yi Jiandong, Professor of Wenzhou University

Wang Jinguo, Dean of School of Politics and International Relations, Lanzhou University

Wang Chaoen, Director Assistant of the Collaborative Innovation Centre for Silk Road Economic Belt Legal and Policy Studies, Xi’an Jiaotong University

Wang Lei, Director of the BRICS Cooperation Center, Beijing Normal University

Wang Shaoguang, Distinguished Professor of School of Public Policy & Management and Schwarzman College; Senior Research Fellow of Institute for Contemporary China Studies, Tsinghua University

Wang Wen, Executive Dean of Chongyang Institute for Financial Studies, Renmin University of China (and the open letter’s Initiative Coordinator)

Wang Xingnan, Professor of Guangdong University of Finance

Wang Yiwei, Director of the Institute of International Affairs, Renmin University of China.

Wang Zaibang, Senior Fellow of Taihe Institute

Wu Dahui, Deputy Director of Russian Research Institute of Tsinghua University

Wu Danhong, Director of Difficult Evidence Center, China University of Political Science and Law

Wu Sike, Former Special Envoy for China on the Middle East Issue, Senior Fellow of Chongyang Institute for Financial Studies, Renmin University of China

Xia Liping, Dean of Institute of International and Public Affairs, Tongji University

Xia Youfu, Executive Director of the Strategy Center for China’s Open Economy and International Technology Cooperation-SCOT, University of International Business and Economics (UIBE)

Yang Guangbin, Dean of School of International Studies, Renmin University of China

Yang Xuedong, Research Fellow of the Institute of Party History and Literature of the CPC Central Committee

Yang Yujun, Dean of Academy of Media and Public Affairs, Communication University of China

Yu Li, Deputy Dean of School of Politics and Public Management, Zhengzhou University

Zhang Dongming, Dean of Northeast Research Institute, Liaoning University (LNU)

Zhang Haibing, President Assistant of Shanghai Institute for International Studies (SIIS)

Zhang Yiwu, Professor of Department of Chinese Language and Literature, Peking University

Zhao Gang, Vice Chairman of China Society for Social System Analysis

Zhao Kejin, Deputy Dean of Institute of Global Development, Tsinghua University

Zhao Jianping, Chairman of China-Africa Development Fund; Senior Fellow of Chongyang Institute for Financial Studies, Renmin University of China

Zhang Shengjun, Professor of School of Government, Beijing Normal University

Zhang Weiliang, Dean of the Institute for Urban Studies, Hangzhou Normal University

Zhang Yanling, Former Vice President of Bank of China; Senior Fellow of Chongyang Institute for Financial Studies, Renmin University of China

Zhang Zhenjiang, Dean of School of International Studies, Jinan University (JNU)

Zhou Feifei, Associate Chief Physician and Associate Professor of Peking University Third Hospital

Zhou Rong, former South Asia Chief Correspondent of Guangming Daily, Senior Fellow of Chongyang Institute for Financial Studies, Renmin University of China

Zhou Xiaojing, Former Director of Institute of Asian and African Development at the Development Research Center of the State Council; Senior Fellow of Chongyang Institute for Financial Studies, Renmin University of China

This letter was circulated by the Chongyang Institute for Financial Studies and appeared in The Diplomat news magazine on April 2.