Situation is ‘grave’ in China, says Saudi student

RIYADH: A Saudi scholarship student from Jazan who is living in Chengdu, in the Chinese province of Sichuan, has spoken of his concern about the situation in the country during the coronavirus outbreak.
Qassem Ali Al-Samiti has been in China for eight years and is studying for his master’s degree in Tourism and Hotel Management.
“The situation is really grave. Travel to and from the city where the virus was first detected has been banned and the Chinese state is still working hard to prevent the virus from spreading further,” said Al-Samiti.
The Saudi embassy and cultural attaché sent emails to students, in cooperation with the Saudi Foreign Affairs Ministry, urging them to take precautions and contact the competent authorities.
Al-Samiti said that he is not considering coming back to Saudi Arabia. “I trust the Chinese state as I have full confidence in the capacity of the medical cadres to eradicate this infectious disease.”
Saudi nationals residing in China are all urged not to go out, just as the Chinese government urged its citizens.