Xi's remarks at Global Health Summit offer guidance on global anti-COVID cooperation, say observers

Chinese President Xi Jinping attends the Global Health Summit and delivers a speech via video in Beijing, capital of China, May 21, 2021. (Xinhua/Huang Jingwen)

Chinese President Xi Jinping has offered the world new guidance on winning the battle against COVID-19 through global cooperation in his remarks made Friday at the Global Health Summit via video in Beijing, overseas experts said.

In his speech, Xi said China proposes setting up an international forum on vaccine cooperation for vaccine-developing and producing countries, companies and other stakeholders to explore ways of promoting fair and equitable distribution of vaccines around the world.

Xi's words hit right on the nail of the current challenge to cooperation among the international community facing the global health crisis, said Charles Onunaiju, director of Nigeria's Center for China Studies.

China has been consistent in advancing the construction of a community with a shared future for mankind, Onunaiju said, stressing that China is a willing and able partner in helping developing countries fight the pandemic, and he expects China and Africa to conduct more cooperation in various fields.

After the outbreak of COVID-19, the Chinese government has responded quickly, timely and responsibly, sending health workers to treat and save patients, providing modern medical equipment as well as supplying urgently needed resources to people of the COVID-19 hit areas, said Khuon Sodary, the second vice president of the Cambodian National Assembly.

China's non-discriminatory measures against COVID-19 are a testament to its people-oriented policy, she added, noting that China's success in containing the pandemic has greatly inspired other countries, especially the developing ones.

Aslam Khan, a columnist of Urdu newspaper Daily Express in Pakistan, said that the outbreak of COVID-19 has highlighted the urgency for the international community to strengthen health cooperation, and China has done exemplary work by bringing the pandemic under control at home and providing help to other countries by all means.

The COVID-19 pandemic is a common challenge for humanity and definitely, the world needs to unite on Xi's proposal to build a global community of health for all, and China has already presented it practically before the world, Khan said.