Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore signed a memorandum of understanding with the then mayor of Wuhan, Tang Liangzhi,during her visit to Wuhan in 2014.[Photo/Facebook account of Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore]

"My concern is for the people of Wuhan, and other areas of China where people have become ill and have experienced severe disruption in their daily lives,” Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore said in a post on her Facebook account on Monday.

She also recalled her visit to Wuhan in 2014 and how she was impressed with the city's goal of becoming a major transport hub and the most livable and sustainable city in China.

During that visit she signed a memorandum of understanding with the then mayor of Wuhan, Tang Liangzhi, which has led to Sydney and Wuhan becoming friendship cities.

Since then exchanges between the two cities became frequent, and delegations from Wuhan and Hubei were later hosted by the mayor in Sydney. "We continue to build on the prosperous and sustainable relationship between Sydney and China,” wrote the mayor.

Earlier this month after the novel coronavirus pneumonia outbreak, Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore wrote to Zhou Xianwang, mayor of Wuhan, to send support on behalf of the people of Sydney. "I expressed our sincere hope that the people of Wuhan and China overcome the challenge of this terrible virus as soon as possible, and that their lives can return to normal."

Her heartfelt message resonates with many Facebook users, with one of them commenting: "Thank you so much for supporting the Chinese people Clover! The Chinese Australians are very grateful for the support and message of solidarity from Australians of all ethnic backgrounds."