By: Ma Xinmin Chinese Ambassador to Sudan
As the coronavirus pandemic that knows no borders or race continues to surge across the globe, it has been a common challenge to all countries. Committed to the vision of building a community of a shared future for mankind and living up to its responsibility as a big power, China has made tremendous efforts and sacrifice in this monumental fight against COVID-19, gaining the respect and acclaim from the international community. As a spearhead of the global battle against COVID-19 pandemic, China provides a “window of opportunity” to contain the global spread of the novel coronavirus. Under the leadership of Chinese President Xi Jinping, China has adopted, at the earliest time possible, the most comprehensive, stringent and thorough prevention and control measures to prevent the coronavirus from spreading within the affected city or beyond. With quick epidemic response and united efforts to stem the spread of the virus to overseas, China has built the first line of defense for the global fight and bought precious time for the international community toenhance preparedness. In addition to the traditional “quarantine strategy”, including putting the epicenter under lockdown with communities and villages cut off from the outside world and roads closed off, suspending work and production, shutting down schools and banning gatherings, China harnessed emerging technologies such as big data, artificial intelligence, internet of things and 5G technology to modernize the conventional control measures. Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO) Dr. Tedros has reiterated that the response measures taken by the Chinese government cost it dear but work on slowing down the spread of the virus to other countries in the world, and called on the global community to “make best use of the valuable time bought by China to enhance preparedness”.
As a pioneer of the global fight against COVID-19, China contributes its wisdom and proposals to the epidemic response of the international community. Although China was the very first country hit by the COVID-19 outbreak in the world, it has contributed without reservation its wisdom and proposals and is pleased to see other countries benefit from its useful experience in coronavirus disease prevention and treatment. Since the COVID-19 outbreak, China has been stepping up efforts at tackling key scientific and technological problems in respect of the origin of the new virus, effective therapeutic drugs, vaccines and virus testing. China sequenced coronavirus COVID-19’s genome at the earliest time and formed in a short time a testing technical system that combines nucleic acid testing and antibody testing. It screened swiftly a group of effective drug therapy and worked out treatment plans effective for patients at different stages of coronavirus infections. Leading the world in vaccine research and development, China has started clinical trials of the COVID-19 vaccine. All of these efforts have contributed to the technical breakthroughs for global joint response. A COVID-19 vaccine developed by Chinese scientists entered human trials in China on March 16, 2020 upon approval and will surely become one of the most powerful technological weapons to eliminate the pandemic. Furthermore, acting with a sense of openness, transparency and responsibility, China briefed, from the very beginning, WHO and other countries involved on real-time epidemic information. It has been sharing its good experience and practices with other countries by releasing continuously updated COVID-19 diagnosis and treatment plans and prevention and control plans that are translated into multiple languages, setting up its online COVID-19 knowledge center and holding over 70 video conferences with experts from more than 150 countries and international organizations including Sudan. Dr. Bruce Aylward, team lead for the WHO-China joint mission on coronavirus said that China’s counterattack can be replicated and other countries don’t have to start from ground zero.As a trailblazer in the community of countries to battle the virus, China demonstrates its leadership for the global epidemic response. Upholding the vision of building a community of a shared future for mankind and the banner of multilateralism, China has been calling for a collective response for control and treatment at the international level. Chinese President Xi Jinping coordinated through the phone call diplomacy the response policies with the leaders of over 20 countries and the heads of multiple international organizations. At the Extraordinary G20 Leaders’ Summit on COVID-19, he called on the community of nations to act swiftly and foster greater synergy, which is an embodiment of the Chinese leader’s commitment to cooperation and concern for the common good. As a responsible major country, China has been extending a helping hand to regions hardest hit by COVID-19 pandemic in the world to help resolve their urgent needs. So far, the Chinese government has offered aid supplies to 127 countries and four international organizations in support of their fight against novel coronavirus. And local Chinese governments, enterprises and non-governmental organizations have donated medical supplies to more than 100 nations. What’s more, the Chinese government has dispatched medical expert groups that travelled day and night to 11 seriously-hit countries, including Iran, Iraq, Italy and Serbia, offering multiple rounds of emergency assistance to the global fight against the pandemic. In a special video message, President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen expressed her appreciation for China’s valuable support to the Europe when the bloc was at the epicenter of the global outbreak of COVID-19.As a model for other countries to follow in their fight against COVID-19, China shores up the world’s confidence to secure a victory over the global anti-virus battle. Faced with the epidemic outbreak, China managed to control the epidemic within a short time through unprecedented control measures, enhancing confidence and setting a good example for the global epidemic response. On April 8, 2020, Wuhan, the epicenter of the coronavirus outbreak in China, emerged from lockdown after 76 days, signaling a hard-won victory in the phase one domestic battle centered in the city of Wuhan. As Dr. Michael Ryan, Executive Director of the WHO Health Emergency Programme, remarked that China’s prominent progress in battling the coronavirus provides hope for the rest of the world that the virus could be contained and the epidemic situation could be turned around. At the same time, China has been coordinating epidemic response and economic and social development, and now takes the lead in achieving nationwide resumption of work and production, which provides a much-needed shot in the arm for global economy likely in the recession and adds impetus to stabilizing the global industry chain and supply chain. Almost all of Fortune 500 companies with investment in China have restored their production. China-Europe Railway Express freight trains to the partner countries have been resumed to facilitate the cross-border flow of goods and services. Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) Georgieva has voiced optimism about prospects about China’s economy, stating that she expects the Chinese economy to recover quickly. This sends a clear message of reconfirmation to global economic stability. China, a powerful engine of the world’s economic growth, will continue to forge ahead with contributing to global economic growth, stabilizing the global industry chain and leading in the Belt and Road development. As an old Chinese saying goes, a man of virtue will not be isolated. In this formidable global battle against the pandemic, China has showcased through concrete actions its leadership, leverage and credibility as a responsible powerhouse, wining high acclaim from many countries. Confronted with the global public health crisis, all countries are stakeholders with their interests and security intertwined. The only way to defeat the virus is through cooperation. And the international community must work together to seek common development and achieve economic rebound.
