File photograph of the Chinese President Xi Jinping spotting a COVID-19 nose mask
Following the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic, which started in China and spreading throughout the world with ravaging effects, China has also emerged as a key player in providing support to countries and international bodies to rout the killer beyond her borders. This was revealed in summary by the Chinese Consul General in Lagos Nigeria, Mr. Chu Maoming.
Chu stated that since the pandemic and the global effort to arrest it, “China twice donated fund to the World Health Organisation (WHO) totaling US$50 million and sent 34 medical expert teams to 32 countries. “The country (China) has also provided 283 batches of anti-epidemic assistance to 150 countries and four international organizations. China offered or exported anti-epidemic materials to more than 200 countries and regions.”
Giving further breakdown, he said “between March 15 and September 6, 2020 China exported 151.5 billion masks, 1.4 billion protective suits, 230 million goggles, 209,000 ventilators, testing kits that can be used for 470 million people and 80.14 million infrared thermometers. In the research and development of COVID-19 vaccines, Chinese scientists shared their progress, including data from clinical trials, with the world. Such transparency has helped researchers from other countries take fewer detours and promote global vaccine research.”
“From sharing information of epidemic prevention, control and treatment to conducting vaccine development, from dispatching medical teams to offering anti-pandemic materials, from supporting international organisations to play their due roles to building a community of common health for mankind, and from improving global health governance to maintaining global industrial chain open, stable and secured, China has helped save a great number of lives in the world with concrete actions. It fully showcases that China, as a major country, places high importance on credibility, friendship, justice and morality, and it also demonstrates China’s commitment to shoulder the major country responsibility to promote common development and build a community with shared future for mankind.”
The diplomat also called on countries of the world to embrace more integration, synergy and teamwork to defeat the pandemic. He expressed delight about the declining rate of new cases and deaths in most countries of the world, including Nigeria where he works and lives where the rate of new cases has dropped below 100 in over 10 unbroken days, with no deaths in some days and the highest of 2 deaths recorded last Thursday.
But he said it was not yet the time to celebrate victory over the pandemic as some countries like US, India and Brazil still have spiking cases and need world assistance. He called that in line with the recent speech of President Xi Jinping, the world should still stand together until a total victory is won.
Recalling a recent development on this call, he said “an important meeting was held in China, at which President Xi Jinping made a keynote speech, once again emphasising the importance of global solidarity in winning the battle. This call is a challenge to the whole and commendable stand by President Xi and China.
“China will continue to play the role of being the largest supplier of global anti-epidemic materials. China will continue to support the World Health Organisation in playing a leading role in the global fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. China will continue to advance economic globalization, steadfastly uphold the multilateral trading system, and join other countries in endeavoring to restore global economic prosperity at an early date.”
