On May 23,2020, H.E.Yan Xiusheng, Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to Barbados, published a signed article entitled “Building A Global Community of Health for All ” in the local mainstream media of Barbados The Advocate Newspaper on the speech delivered by H.E. Xi Jingping, President of the People’s Republic of China at the 73rd World Health Assembly. Following is the full context of Ambassador Yan’s article:
Building A Global Community of Health for All
On May 18, 2020, H.E. Xi Jinping, President of the People’s Republic of China, delivered a speech entitled “Fighting COVID-19 Through Solidarity and Cooperation, Building a Global Community of Health for All” at the Opening Ceremony of the virtual 73rd World Health Assembly, which was held during the current critical moment as the human race battles the dreadful COVID-19.
In his speech, President Xi championed the vision of building a global community of health for all, expounded China's response to COVID-19 and put forward a series of important proposals and measures, which we hope and believe will contribute to the global response to COVID-19 and help safeguard the integrity of the international health system.
As President Xi stated, the virus does not respect borders. Nor is race or nationality relevant in the face of the disease. Confronted by the ravages of COVID-19, the international community has not flinched. People from all countries have tackled the virus head on. Around the world, people have looked out for each other and pulled together as one. With love and compassion, the international community has forged extraordinary synergy in the fight against COVID-19. In his speech, President Xi sent out the following three messages to the international community.
Firstly, we need to focus on fighting the pandemic and work together. The global situation remains complex and grave, and fighting the pandemic is the top priority. All countries should put people's lives first and stem the global spread of the virus as soon as possible. China calls on upholding World Health Organization’s (WHO) leadership role. To support WHO is to support international cooperation, support saving lives and support multilateralism. China is ready to continue working with the international community to step up support for WHO and strengthen international cooperation in the fight against COVID-19 until the final victory is achieved.
Secondly, we need to assist each other in a humanitarian spirit. With an open, transparent and responsible attitude and the vision of building a community with a shared future for mankind, China has taken on the responsibility to safeguard not just the life and health of its own citizens, but also global public health. In his speech, President Xi announced China’s five important measures to strengthen global cooperation against COVID-19, including providing US$2 billion of international aid in the next two years; working with the UN to set up a global humanitarian response depot and hub in China; establishing a cooperation mechanism for its hospitals to pair up with 30 African hospitals and accelerate the building of the Africa Centre for Disease Control and Prevention headquarters; making China's COVID-19 vaccine development and deployment, when available, a global public good; and working 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 bolster support for the hardest-hit countries under the greatest strain so that they could tide over the current difficulties, which showcases that China acts responsibly as a major country.
Thirdly, we need to have a long-term view and prepare for a rainy day. We human beings will eventually prevail over the coronavirus. Yet this may not be the last time a major public health emergency comes unexpectedly. Based on the preconditions of a scientific and professional attitude, WHO-led efforts and the principle of objectivity and impartiality, China supports the idea of a comprehensive review of the global response to COVID-19 to sum up experience and address deficiencies after it is brought under control. While containing the virus, countries where conditions permit, may reopen businesses and schools in an orderly fashion following WHO's professional recommendations. China also believes that 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 world economic growth.
China and Barbados are enjoying long-standing friendship, and the solidarity and cooperation to combat the current epidemic bring us even closer. Since the outbreak of the COVID-19, H.E, President Xi Jinping and the Hon. Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley wrote to each other, showing their solidarity to fight together against the virus. China has mobilized the most needed medical supplies to Barbados, including 37,000 Surgical Masks, 5,000 N95 Respirators, 8,450 Surgical Protective Gloves, 4,530 Medical Protective Goggles, 4,500 Medical Protective Gowns, 1,536 Test Kits, 250 Non-Contact Infrared Thermometers and 3 Ventilators. And happily to tell that more PPEs to come! We also invited the top Chinese front line medical experts from Chonqing Municipality to share their know-how and experience with their Barbadian peers, in order to enhance our Bajan friends’ capacity to cope with the epidemic.
Thanks to the strong leadership of the Hon. Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley and the Barbados government, the arduous efforts of the front line medical workers, as well as the fully supports from the Barbadians across all walks of life, we are happy to see that the epidemic now in Barbados is under control and the situation is moving steadily in the positive direction. And looking broader, I believe that with the concerted efforts from the Chinese, the Barbadian and all the people around the globe, under the spirit of solidarity and cooperation, we can definitely win this battle against COVID-19 and our economic and social lives could be back to normal soon, just as the beautiful Barbados National Anthem puts it: We have no doubts or fears, upward and onward we shall go.
