Work Together to Protect the Lives and Health of All

Work Together to Protect the Lives and Health of All*

May 18, 2020

The history of human civilization is one of fighting disease and disaster. Viruses are no respecters of border, race or nationality. Confronted by the ravages of Covid-19, the international community has not flinched, and the people of all countries have risen to the challenge. Around the world, people have pulled together as one, helping each other as best we can. With love and compassion, we have forged extraordinary synergy in the battle against Covid-19.

In China, after painstaking efforts and enormous sacrifice, we have turned the tide of the battle and succeeded in protecting the lives and health of our people. All along, we have acted with openness, transparency and responsibility. We have provided information to the World Health Organization (WHO) and other affected countries in a most timely fashion. We have released the genome sequence at the earliest possible time. We have shared our experience of control and treatment with the rest of the world without reservation. We have done everything in our power to support and assist countries in need.

Even as we meet, the virus is still raging, and more must be done to bring it under control. To this end, I want to make the following proposals:

First, we must do everything we can to prevent and contain the spread of the virus. This is a most urgent task. We must always put the people first, for nothing in the world is more precious than people’s lives. We need to deploy medical expertise and critical supplies in places where they are most needed. We need to take strong measures in key areas such as prevention, quarantine, detection, treatment and tracing. We need to move as fast as we can to curb the global spread of the virus and do our best to stem cross-border transmission. We need to step up information sharing, learn from each other’s experience and best practices, and pursue international cooperation on testing methods, clinical treatment, and research and development of vaccines and medicines. We also need to continue supporting global research by scientists on the source and transmission routes of the virus.

Second, the WHO should lead the global response. Under the leadership of Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the WHO has made a major contribution in leading and advancing the global response to Covid-19. Its good work has been applauded by the international community. At this crucial juncture, to support the WHO is to support international cooperation and the battle for saving lives. China calls on the international community to increase political and financial support for the WHO so as to mobilize resources worldwide to defeat the virus.

Third, we must provide greater support for Africa. Developing countries, those in Africa in particular, have weaker public health systems. Helping them to build capacity must be a top priority in our Covid-19 response. The world needs to provide more material, technological and manpower support for African countries. China has sent tremendous quantities of medical supplies and offered assistance to over 50 African countries and the African Union. Five teams of Chinese health and medical experts have been sent to the African continent in support of its Covid-19 response. For the past seven decades, a total of over 200 million people in Africa have received care and treatment from Chinese medical teams. At present, 46 resident Chinese medical teams are in Africa helping with local Covid-19 containment efforts.

Fourth, we must strengthen global public health governance. Humanity will eventually prevail over the coronavirus. Yet this will not be the last time we are confronted by a major public health emergency. In view of the weaknesses and deficiencies exposed by Covid-19, we need to improve the system of governance for public health security. We need to respond more quickly to public health emergencies and establish global and regional centers of anti-epidemic reserves. China supports the idea of conducting a comprehensive review of the global response to Covid-19 once it has been brought under control, to take stock of experience and lessons learned and address deficiencies. This should be based on science and professionalism, led by the WHO and conducted in an objective and impartial manner.

Fifth, we must restore economic and social development. While working on an ongoing basis to contain the virus, countries may reopen businesses and schools where conditions permit, in an orderly fashion and in accordance with the WHO’s professional recommendations. In the meantime, coordination of international macroeconomic policy should be stepped up, and global industrial and supply chains should be kept open and stable, if we are to restore growth to the world economy.

Sixth, we must strengthen international cooperation. Humanity shares a common future. Solidarity and cooperation are our most powerful weapons to defeat the virus. This is a key lesson the world has learned from fighting HIV/AIDS, Ebola, avian influenza, influenza A (H1N1) and other major epidemics. And solidarity and cooperation offer a sure method through which we, the people of the world, can defeat this novel coronavirus.

China stands for the vision of building a global community of shared future. China considers it has a responsibility to ensure the lives and health of its own citizens, and also to safeguard global public health. In order to boost international cooperation against Covid-19, I hereby announce the following:

–  China will provide US$2 billion over two years to help with the Covid-19 response and with economic and social development in affected countries, especially developing countries.

–  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 to foster “green corridors” for fast-track transport and customs clearance.

–  China will establish a cooperation mechanism for its hospitals to pair up with 30 African hospitals. We will accelerate the building of the Africa CDC headquarters and help the continent ramp up its capacity for disease prevention and control.

–  Covid-19 vaccines, once they have been developed and applied in China, will be made available as a global public good. This will be China’s contribution to ensuring access to affordable vaccines in developing countries.

–  China will work with other G20 members to implement the Debt Service Suspension Initiative for the poorest countries. China is also ready to work with the international community to boost support for the worst-affected countries that are struggling the hardest to service their debt, and help them emerge from their current difficulties.

To conclude, I call on all of us to come together and work as one. Let us make a concerted effort to protect the lives and health of all people in all countries. Let us work together to safeguard planet earth, our common home. Let us work together to build a global community of health for all.

* Part of the speech at the opening ceremony of the virtual 73rd World Health Assembly.

(Not to be republished for any commercial or other purposes.)