AsiaNet  84204

BEIJING, May 29, 2020 /PRNewswire=KYODO JBN/ --

A news report by Science and Technology Daily:

The 73rd World Health Assembly (WHA) was held in a special period of time when

the outbreak of COVID-19 put the world in a complex situation, and the virus is

still raging worldwide. Therefore, mankind is facing the most serious global

public health emergency since the end of World War II, the pandemic has become

the core topic of discussion in the international community. In such an

important historical moment, President Xi was invited to address a speech at

the opening ceremony of WHA. He set forth the proposition of how China fight

against pandemic profoundly and outlined a series of important initiatives from

vision of building Community of Common Health for Mankind. These initiatives

have important practical and far-reaching implications, for boosting global

confidence, promoting international collaboration, and planning future global

governance systems.

First, the world should further share experience in pandemic prevention and

control. President Xi emphasized that the top priority in response to the

pandemic is that countries must do everything they can for COVID-19 control and

treatment. The world should insist on the idea of "putting the people first,

for nothing in the world is more precious than people's lives", contain the

spread of the epidemic around the world as soon as possible, and try our best

to stop the cross-border disease transmission. We need to step up information

sharing, exchange experience and best practice, and pursue international

cooperation on testing methods, clinical treatment, and vaccine and medicine

research and development. We also need to continue supporting global research

by scientists on the source and transmission routes of the virus. While working

on an ongoing basis to contain the virus, countries where conditions permit may

reopen businesses and schools in an orderly fashion in observance of WHO's

professional recommendations. In the meantime, international macroeconomic

policy coordination should be stepped up and the global industrial and supply

chains be kept stable and unclogged if we are to restore growth to the world

economy. These suggestions not only summarized China's successful experience,

but also provided a new way of thinking to coordinate epidemic prevention and

control, and economic and social development in line with the current situation

of countries in the fight against the epidemic.

Second, the world should unite more. President Xi emphasized that solidarity

and cooperation are the most powerful weapons against the pandemic. It is of

great importance to help developing countries, especially African countries, to

build up the defence system in this battle against COVID-19. Xi also called on

the international community to provide African countries with more support in

terms of goods and materials, technology and personnel. The World Health

Organization (WHO), as Xi stressed, should play a leading role, and by

supporting the WHO people are in support of international cooperation against

COVID-19 and saving lives. Xi also appealed to the international community to

strengthen their support in the WHO both politically and financially. All that

mentioned above manifest China's close attention to Africa and firm support of

the United Nations and the WHO, which contributes to uniting the cooperated

efforts of the international community and winning this battle against the

pandemic by allocating global resources.

Third, it shows China's responsibility as a major country in the world.

President Xi announced China's five major measures to further support global

cooperation in fighting against COVID-19. This will be China's contribution to

ensuring vaccine accessibility and affordability in developing countries. Also,

China will work with the UN to set up a global humanitarian response depot and

hub in China to ensure the operation of anti-epidemic supply chains and foster

"green corridors" for fast-track transportation and customs clearance.

Furthermore, China will establish a cooperation mechanism for its hospitals to

pair up with 30 African hospitals and accelerate the building of the Africa CDC

headquarters, which aims to increase the continent's capacity to prevent and

control diseases. COVID-19 vaccine development and deployment in China, when

available, will be made a global public good. This will be China's contribution

to ensuring vaccine accessibility and affordability in developing countries.

For those poorest countries, China will also work with other G20 members to

implement the Debt Service Suspension Initiative. China is also ready to work

with the international community to support for the hardest-hit countries to

make sure that they get through the current difficulties. These concrete

measures address the key and difficult points in the global fight against

COVID-19 at present and in the years to come. They demonstrate China's

commitment to building a community with a shared future for mankind. China

takes it as its responsibility to ensure not just the life and health of its

own citizens, but also global public health.

Fourth, it clearly pointed out the direction for cooperation. COVID-19 came

with an unexpected bang, which had a profound influence on the human kind and

brought much introspection. President Xi noted that we will eventually prevail

over the coronavirus. Yet this may not be the last time a major health

emergency comes knocking at our door. Based on the weaknesses and deficiencies

exposed by COVID-19, we need to improve the governance system of public health

and respond more quickly to public health emergencies. Xi also suggested the

establishment of global and regional reserve centers of anti-epidemic supplies.

China supports the idea of a comprehensive review of the global response to

COVID-19 after it is brought under control to sum up experience and address

deficiencies. This work should be based on science and professionalism, led by

WHO and conducted in an objective and impartial manner. These suggestions are

put forward from a long-term perspective, which also points out a direction for

strengthening international cooperation in public health and improving global

health administration system.

SOURCE: Science and Technology Daily