To dispel dark clouds of COVID-19 with solidarity

By Guo Jiping

The global spread of the novel coronavirus pneumonia is constantly amplifying the importance and urgency of international cooperation.

As the world grapples with COVID-19, a special video summit was convened on March 26 by the Group of 20 leaders. Chinese President Xi Jinping attended the meeting in Beijing and delivered an important speech, showcasing China’s responsibility as a major country, and its resolution to push for joint efforts to combat the virus and stabilize global economy.

China deeply understands the significance for the world to defeat the disease as a country that has been directly threatened. It has taken the most thorough, strict and complete measures to fight the outbreak with the resolve and courage to make painful sacrifices, which is not only responsible for the lives and health of the Chinese people, but also fulfills the country’s duty for global public health. It is an internationally recognized consensus that China’s efforts have earned valuable time for the world.

On the first day of the Chinese New Year, the most important traditional festival of China, Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, chaired a meeting of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC, making further study of and new arrangements on epidemic prevention and control, and once again mobilizing the country to fight the epidemic.

On Feb. 10, Xi inspected the novel coronavirus pneumonia prevention and control work in Beijing. Calling for stronger confidence, firmer determination and decisive measures, he said the country must rely on the people, resolutely contain the spread of the epidemic and win the battle against the epidemic.

In the fight against COVID-19, all Chinese have been mobilized. Hubei province’s capital Wuhan, the epicenter of the outbreak, is a major battlefield where heroic people served the overall interests of the country and fought indomitably against the virus. Over 40,000 medical staff went to Hubei for assistance; 19 provinces offered partner assistance; and makeshift hospitals Huoshenshan and Leishenshan were built within days. Such miraculously effective actions demonstrated the institutional power of the super large country.

Thanks to the relentless efforts, China’s epidemic prevention and control showed positive signs and achieved initial progress.

At the critical moment of the fight against the virus, Xi had an inspection tour to Wuhan on March 10, calling on the city to stay cautious as it had in the beginning, make persistent efforts and take prevention and control of the novel coronavirus outbreak as the top priority and most important task. Besides, he also urged the city to stay focused and keep strict implementation of measures, so as to secure a victory for Hubei and Wuhan.

Hailing that the high speed and massive scale of China's moves are rarely seen in the world, World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the experience of China is worth learning for other countries.

Bruce Aylward, team leader of the China-WHO joint mission on COVID-19 noted that China’s strong measures of intervention have significantly altered the curve of the spreading virus on diagrams, and every difference and every line represent a powerful decision by policymakers and tremendous efforts benefiting a large number of Chinese people.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres also hailed China’s efforts to contain COVID-19. He said that with resolve and resilience, China will not only defeat the epidemic soon, but also achieve a quick economic recovery. This will be in the interest of the Chinese people and a strong contribution to the world, he added.

The fight against COVID-19 further enriched and deepened the world’s understanding of China. Both the powerful and effective organizing and mobilizing capabilities of the Chinese government, as well as the cohesion and readiness of the Chinese people in the face of the crisis explain to the international society why China is able to defeat the virus.

Love and support reach every corner of the world in midst of the pandemic. China is doing its best to offer timely assistance to affected countries when the pandemic is exacerbating globally, contributing its experiences and solutions. The country mapped the coronavirus genome and shared it with the WHO at the first opportunity, released multiple editions of therapeutic and prevention plans in different languages, and dispatched medical teams to Iran, Iraq, Italy, Serbia and Cambodia for assistance. Besides, it has also held video conferences with other countries to share its forefront experiences, and offered emergency aid to over 80 countries, WHO and the African Union.

History once again witnessed the responsibility and credit of a major country that always fulfills its promises, as well as the love and justice it showcased amid difficulties.

In an effort to dispel the dark clouds of COVID-19, China will always hold the principle of mutual assistance, work hard to safeguard regional and global public health security, firmly support the global efforts to fight the virus, and join hands with each country to secure a final victory over the pandemic.