China backs UN role in anti-virus fight

The novel coronavirus pandemic poses an enormous threat to life and health and a formidable challenge to global public health security. UN Secretary-General António Guterres pointed out that the pandemic is the gravest test for the United Nations since its foundation. Since the outbreak, China has firmly supported the United Nations playing a leading role and coordinating international cooperation to fight the virus.

President Xi Jinping had intensive telephone conversations recently with Secretary-General Guterres and leaders of other countries. They exchanged views and reached consensus on strengthening international cooperation in combating the pandemic. President Xi emphasized that the world is a community with a shared future. In fighting a disease that threatens the people of all countries, solidarity and cooperation is the most powerful weapon. It is imperative for the international community to strengthen confidence, act with unity, and work in a collective response to win this battle against a highly dangerous virus.

China supports the WHO in anti-epidemic fight

As a UN specialized agency responsible for public health matters, the World Health Organization plays a crucial role in epidemic response. Under the leadership of Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the WHO upholds a science-based, objective and unbiased stance and provides active guidance and assistance to countries around the world.

China enjoys close communication and cooperation with the WHO, and updates the WHO in an open, transparent and responsible manner. After the outbreak of COVID-19, China immediately reported to the WHO, shared with it and the international community the genetic sequence and China's prevention and treatment experience without reservation. China donated $20 million to the WHO in support of the global anti-epidemic cooperation. At the Extraordinary G20 Leaders' Summit on COVID-19, President Xi called for support to the WHO. A joint statement was issued by the Group of 77 and China, commending the WHO's efforts in responding to the epidemic.

Security Council's response to outbreak

As the organ with the primary responsibility for maintaining international peace and security, the Security Council faces unprecedented challenges with the outbreak. As president of the Security Council in March, China made strenuous efforts in fulfilling its responsibility amid the impact of COVID-19, devised new working modalities for emergencies with other council members, and facilitated positive outcomes of the council's work at a difficult time.

Under the Chinese presidency, the council for the first time had a thematic discussion on countering terrorism and extremism in Africa and adopted a presidential statement. The council adopted for the first time a resolution on the safety and security of peacekeepers, Resolution 2518.

During the last two weeks of March, the council held video teleconferences on the situations in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Libya, Syria, Afghanistan and the Middle East. The council called on relevant parties to recognize the primacy of life and health, push for cessation of hostilities, reduce negative impact on the humanitarian situation and strengthen the safety and security of peacekeepers.

UN General Assembly's efforts receive support

The UN General Assembly represents all member states and is the main deliberative, policymaking and representative organ of the UN. Being actively engaged in the work of the General Assembly's General Committee, China gave support to the adoption of decision 74/544 for clarifying the way of decision-making by the General Assembly under the pandemic to ensure its normal performance of duties.

China and other 187 member states submitted the draft resolution "Global Solidarity to Fight COVID-19", which reaffirms the commitment to international cooperation and multilateralism, supports the central role of the UN in responding to the outbreak, calls on all countries to follow the WHO recommendations and enhance experience and information sharing, and stresses no tolerance for discrimination, racism and xenophobia of any form. The resolution was adopted by consensus.

Beijing responds to the initiatives by Guterres

China firmly supports the leadership of the secretary-general in fighting the pandemic and attaches great importance to his Appeal for Global Ceasefire. China calls on the parties to support and act on this initiative to buy time for prevention and containment, open up space for cooperation and create conditions for political solutions. China pushed for attention by the Security Council to the situations of countries in armed conflict and the safety of people in conflict zones, and made utmost efforts to help other countries fight COVID-19.

China has shown support to more than 130 countries, including all those on the agenda of the Security Council. China provided medical supplies, shared experiences, sent expert teams and assisted with commercial procurement. China supports all the other initiatives of the secretary-general, including the appeal on prevention and redress of violence against women during the epidemic, the Global Humanitarian Response Plan and the UN communications response initiative.

Helping mitigate impact of COVID-19 on economy

In the report "Shared Responsibility, Global Solidarity: Responding to the Socio-Economic Impacts of COVID-19", Secretary-General Guterres pointed out that the pandemic has hit hard the world economy, probably causing a global recession and crisis. The world's leading economies should adopt coordinated, decisive, inclusive and innovative policy actions.

The International Monetary Fund has made a similar appeal. China is fully aware of its important responsibility as the second-largest economy and is making every effort to help stabilize and boost the world economy. At the Extraordinary G20 Leaders' Summit, President Xi called on the parties to strengthen macroeconomic policy coordination, jointly maintain the stability of the global industrial chain, supply chain and financial markets and promote trade facilitation, charting the course for the global economy to step out of the shadow of the pandemic.

On Tuesday, at the Special ASEAN Plus Three (10 + 3) Summit on COVID-19, Premier Li Keqiang called for partnership, solidarity and mutual assistance among ASEAN and China, Japan, and the Republic of Korea, to work for economic development and an early victory over the pandemic. While consolidating the positive results of pandemic response at home, China is working hard to get people back to work, reduce the impact on the global industrial chain, and ease the shortage of medical supplies in other countries.

Growth must be priority in fight against pandemic

China subscribes to the view of Secretary-General Guterres that COVID-19 has a far-reaching negative impact on global sustainable development, with stronger impact on vulnerable countries and people, thus the international community needs to better recover from the crisis and fulfill its commitment to implement the 2030 sustainable development agenda, with the goal of building a more inclusive and sustainable future.

China is working hard to battle poverty despite COVID-19 and to ensure that its poverty eradication targets will be met as scheduled. This will set a good example for the international community in the implementation of the 2030 Agenda.

Virus knows no borders or races. No country can wall itself off from its impact. The only way to defeat the virus is to work together. Blame-shifting and scapegoating will not help focus on pandemic response, but only divide the international community and jeopardizes international anti-epidemic cooperation. We firmly oppose such wrong acts as labeling, politicizing and stigmatizing, a position shared by the international community.

Through solidarity and mutual assistance, we will prevail over this outbreak and embrace a brighter future for all.

The author is China's permanent representative to the United Nations. The views don't necessarily represent those of China Daily.