On May 21, Chinese President Xi Jinping attended upon invitation and addressed the Global Health Summit via video link. In his speech entitled Working Together to Build a Global Community of Health for All, Xi shared the Chinese experience in responding to the COVID-19 pandemic. The ideas and propositions have been proven effective in China and much needed in countries still fighting the pandemic. The address has thus been widely welcomed and echoed.
President Xi Jinping pointed to repeated resurgence and frequent mutations of the coronavirus and the protracted havoc caused by the most serious pandemic in a century. He made five points on what all countries need to do to clinch an early victory against COVID-19 and restore economic growth.
First, countries must put people and their lives first. The battle with COVID-19 is one for the people and by the people. What has happened proves that to completely defeat the virus, all countries must put people’s lives and health front and center. No effort must be spared to attend every case, save every patient, and truly respect the value and dignity of every human life.
Second, countries must follow science-based policies and ensure a coordinated and systemic response. Faced with this new infectious disease, we should advocate the spirit of science, adopt a science-based approach, and follow the law of science. The fight against COVID-19 is an all-out war that calls for a systemic response to coordinate pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions, balance targeted routine COVID-19 protocols and emergency measures, and ensure both epidemic control and socio-economic development.
Third, countries must stick together and promote solidarity and cooperation. The pandemic is yet another reminder that we humanity rise and fall together with a shared future. Confronted by a pandemic like COVID-19, we must champion the vision of building a global community of health for all, tide over this trying time through solidarity and cooperation, and firmly reject any attempt to politicize, label or stigmatize the virus.
Fourth, countries must uphold fairness and equity as they strive to close the immunization gap. A year ago, President Xi proposed that vaccines should be made a global public good. Today, the problem of uneven vaccination has become more acute. It is imperative for all countries to reject vaccine nationalism and find solutions to issues concerning the production capacity and distribution of vaccines, in order to make vaccines more available, accessible and affordable in developing countries, especially those in urgent need. The World Health Organization (WHO) should speed up efforts under the COVID-19 Vaccine Global Access (COVAX) facility.
Fifth, countries must address both the symptoms and root causes as the governance system is improved. The pandemic is an extensive test of the global health governance system. It is important that we strengthen and leverage the role of the UN and the WHO and improve the global disease prevention and control system to better prevent and respond to future pandemics. It is important that we uphold the spirit of extensive consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits, fully heed the views of developing countries, and better reflect their legitimate concerns.
In this unprecedented battle against the pandemic, China has, while receiving support and help from many countries, mounted a massive global humanitarian operation. China has provided 2 billion US dollars in assistance for the COVID-19 response and economic and social recovery in developing countries hit by the pandemic. We have sent medical supplies to more than 150 countries and 13 international organizations, providing more than 280 billion masks, 3.4 billion protective suits and 4 billion testing kits to the world.
In continued support for global solidarity against COVID-19, China announced the following: it will provide an additional 3 billion US dollars in international aid over the next three years to support COVID-19 response and economic and social recovery in other developing countries; it supports its vaccine companies in transferring technologies to other developing countries and carrying out joint production with them; it has announced support for waiving intellectual property rights on COVID-19 vaccines and also supports the World Trade Organization and other international institutions in making an early decision on this matter; it proposes to set up an international forum on vaccine cooperation for vaccine-developing and producing countries, companies and other stakeholders to explore ways of promoting fair and equitable distribution of vaccines around the world.
China and Afghanistan are neighbors with a traditional friendship. Their solidarity against COVID-19 has set an example of cooperation for the international community. Afghanistan has recently been seeing increased cases due to new variants. At this difficult time, the Chinese people will, as always, stand side by side with the Afghan people and help each other in fighting the pandemic. On April 27, the Foreign Ministers of Afghanistan, Pakistan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and China met online and reached important common understanding with specific results on pandemic response. All parties remain committed to deepening cooperation and overcoming difficulties together. To meet the urgent needs of Afghanistan, China promised to provide 700,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccine, to be delivered as soon as possible.
Guided by the spirit of President Xi’s important address, China will strengthen cooperation with Afghanistan in pandemic response by providing assistance within its capacity so that Afghanistan will win the fight against COVID-19 at an early date and achieve healthy and stable development. The Chinese people stand ready to work together with the people of Afghanistan and other countries to build a global community of health, end the pandemic at an early date and create a bright future together!
