Chongqing- On April 23, iChongqing had an interview with Mr. Ji Guanguang, to discuss overseas Chinese’s life and vision during the COVID-19 pandemic. Mr. Ji is Honorary Director of Overseas Chinese of the United Front Work Department and Founder and Director of Pittsburgh Chinese School in the U.S. Mr. Ji is now living in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the United States. In this interview, he would share his stories about how the Chinese community response to the COVID-19 pandemic in the U.S. and the current situation in the U.S.

Mr. Ji has made a great contribution by organizing Chinese communities to help donate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to Wuhan and Chengdu in Jan. 2020, and donated masks to local hospitals later in Feb. and Mar. when the COVID-19 outbreak happened in US. “I took the letter from Wuhan Foreign Affairs Office, and I went to the government of Pittsburgh and Allegheny County and asked for help. The director said they would like to help as much as they could. Then, they mobilized a fund called BBF (Brother’s Brother Fund), which is a classic fund organization. BBF has organized a donation of 180,000 masks to Wuhan”, he said in the interview, “Later on, there was an earthquake in Chengdu, some said that if staying at home, there might be an earthquake, but if you went out, there was no mask to wear. Then, BBF donated 30,000 masks to Chengdu. We, the Chinese in Pittsburgh, so united when facing these challenges, not only because we are friendly cities with Wuhan, once we heard that Chengdu has difficulties, we donated masks without hesitation”. 

Mr. Ji's stories during the pandemic showed how overseas Chinese make great efforts to help each other regardless of the borders and distance. Besides, He hoped there will be economic recovery soon and more cultural exchanges between Pittsburgh and China whenever the pandemic ends in the future.