China to build community of health for all with Russia, Kazakstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia

BEIJING -- China, Russia, Kazakstan, Kyrgyzstan and Mongolia have agreed to jointly build an anti-pandemic fortress, a Health Silk Road and a community of health for all, Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi said Wednesday.

The decision was made after he exchanged views with foreign ministers of Russia, Kazakstan, Kyrgyzstan and Mongolia on deepening anti-pandemic cooperation to defeat the COVID-19, Wang, who attended the meeting of foreign ministers of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) member countries in Moscow and visited the four countries on Sept. 10-16, told Xinhua in an interview.

China and the four countries have supported each other through thick and thin and conducted effective anti-pandemic cooperation since the epidemic broke out, Wang said.

Recalling Mongolian President Khaltmaa Battulga's China visit in February, the telephone talks held between Chinese President Xi Jinping and his counterparts in Russia, Kazakstan and Kyrgyzstan, namely Vladimir Putin, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and Sooronbai Jeenbekov, Wang said China and the four countries have offered support and aid to each other to fight against the pandemic.

In a bid to deepen the anti-pandemic cooperation, the ministers have agreed to take measures in four areas, Wang said.

First, China and the four countries will strengthen anti-pandemic cooperation, firmly support the World Health Organization in playing a coordinative role and oppose any attempt to politicize the pandemic and attach a geographical label to the virus.

Second, they will consolidate and expand anti-pandemic achievements.

Third, they will actively promote the cooperation in the development, production and purchase of vaccine.

Fourth, they will make a concerted effort on Chinese traditional medicine cooperation, Wang said.

In the interview, Wang also said the SCO foreign ministers' meeting has pushed forward international cooperation against the COVID-19 pandemic and pledged support for multilateralism.

The key mission of this foreign ministers' meeting was to make political preparations for the SCO virtual summit scheduled in November, he said.

The ministers look forward to taking the summit as a chance to more effectively deal with global challenges, defuse security risks, share development opportunities, while setting the SCO as a model for multilateralism and new-type international relations as it approaches the third decade of establishment, Wang added.

The foreign ministers have reached important consensus and agreements in this respect, according to Wang.

On China-Russia relations, Wang said the two countries will strengthen cooperation in supporting international anti-pandemic cooperation, setting an exemplar of major-country peaceful coexistence, enhancing cutting-edge technological innovations and safeguarding international justice and equity.

He and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, following face-to-face talks, have reached a series of important consensus on strengthening bilateral ties and dealing with international and regional challenges, Wang told Xinhua.

As the world is entering a period of turbulence and change, strong China-Russia relations are of more prominent significance in sustaining regional and world peace and security, according to Wang.

China and Russia will unwaveringly develop future-oriented relations, and work with the international community to construct a new type of international relations featuring mutual respect, equity, justice and win-win cooperation and build a community with a shared future for mankind, so as to make greater contributions to the cause of human peace and development, Wang said.

In the post-pandemic era, Wang said China will continue to promote foreign exchanges and cooperation and better synergize the Belt and Road Initiative and other countries' development strategies.

Wang said that during his trip, China and relevant countries summarized the new features and good experiences of cooperation in various fields amid the pandemic and agreed to continue to synergize the the Belt and Road Initiative and each other's development strategies, so as to speed up the resumption of work and production and bring more benefits to countries and peoples in the region.

China and relevant countries have also agreed to make joint efforts to accelerate the development of bilateral relations and further deepen bilateral cooperation.

On regional security, Wang said China and its regional counterparts will continue to strengthen cooperation to maintain regional security and fight against renewed threats and challenges facing the region.

During his trip, countries in the region agreed that strategic cooperation on security shows a high level of mutual trust and is a crucial part of their all-round cooperation, Wang said, proposing China and other Asian nations enhance security cooperation in the face of the new threats and challenges.

On Afghan peace process, Wang said China sincerely hopes that all parties to Afghanistan's peace talks will prioritize the interests of its people as well as the nation.

He stressed that the fundamental direction of political settlement, the basic principle of the Afghan-led approach, and the framework goal of broad inclusiveness should be adhered to.

At the same time, it is hoped that the new Afghan government will unswervingly combat terrorism, pursue a peaceful and friendly foreign policy, and earnestly push Afghanistan onto a path of peace, stability and development, he added.