Xi calls for greater global health partnership to defeat coronavirus

Shanghai, China, Apr 20 (EFE).- Chinese President Xi Jinping Tuesday said the World Health Organization (WHO) needed a boost to defeat the pandemic and assured that his country would continue its anti-coronavirus cooperation with the world.

In a speech delivered at the opening ceremony of the annual Boao Forum, known as the “Asian Davos,” in the Hainan province, Xi said China would “honor its commitment of making vaccines a global public good and do more to help developing countries” in their fight against the virus.

The Chinese leader called for bolstering global cooperation in the research and development, production, and distribution of vaccines.

He said the aim was to “increase their accessibility and affordability in developing countries so that everyone in the world can access and afford the vaccines they need” to fight the coronavirus pandemic.

“In the ongoing fight against Covid-19, victory will be ours at the end of the day,” he said.

“We must put people and their lives above anything else, scale up information sharing and collective efforts, enhance public health and medical cooperation, and give full play to the key role of the WHO.”

Xi said China would “never seek hegemony, expansion, or a sphere of influence,” regardless of how powerful it becomes.

“Nor will China ever engage in an arms race. China will take an active part in multilateral cooperation on trade and investment, fully implement the foreign investment law and its supporting rules and regulations, cut further the negative list on foreign investment.”

In an oft-repeated claim, Xi described China as a champion for the multilateral trading system in the world.

“We need to follow the principles of extensive consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits, uphold true multilateralism, and make the global governance system more fair and equitable,” he said.

Xi underscored the need to “safeguard the UN-centered international system, preserve the international order underpinned by international law, and uphold the multilateral trading system with the World Trade Organization at its core.”

“We must not let the rules set by one or a few countries be imposed on others, or allow unilateralism pursued by certain countries to set the pace for the whole world.”

He was referring to the United States and its allies but did not name any country.

“What we need in today’s world is justice, not hegemony. Big countries should behave in a manner befitting their status and with a greater sense of responsibility.”

The Chinese president warned that “instability and uncertainty are clearly on the rise” amid a “growing governance deficit, trust deficit, development deficit, and peace deficit.”

“That said, there is no fundamental change in the trend toward a multi-polar world,” he said, highlighting a brighter side of the world.

“Economic globalization is showing renewed resilience, and the call for upholding multilateralism and enhancing communication and coordination has grown stronger.

“While we live in an age rife with challenges, it is also an age full of hope.” EFE

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