Politics

Xi Jinping: Global unity key to overcoming pandemic

Geneva, Jan 25 (efe-epa).- China’s president Xi Jinping opened the virtual Davos Forum on Monday with a message against confrontation in all forms and encouraging global unity to move past the pandemic.

Xi’s address to the World Economic Forum, this year held via video conference rather than at the traditional Davos summit in Switzerland, was largely centered on the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic on the global economy.

“There is no doubt that humanity will prevail over the virus and emerge even stronger from this disaster,” the Chinese leader said.

“History is moving forward and the world will not go back to what it was in the past. Every choice and move we make today will shape the world of the future,” he added.

He said there were four major keys in that endeavor: to boost macroeconomic support; to abandon ideological prejudice; to close the gap with the global south and to unite in the face of global challenges.

“History and reality have made it clear, time and again, that the misguided approach of antagonism and confrontation, be it in the form of cold war, hot war, trade war or tech war, would eventually hurt all countries’ interests and undermine everyone’s well-being.”

Xi’s message comes amid a change of leadership in the United States, with the future of Washington-Beijing relations in the hands of Joe Biden.

Former president Donald Trump had a fraught relationship with Xi’s government which will be remembered for its trade war, tit for tat tariffs and tussles over intellectual property.

“Multilateralism is about having international affairs addressed through consultation and the future of the world decided by everyone working together,” he added.

“To build small circles or start a new Cold War, to reject, threaten or intimidate others, to willfully impose decoupling, supply disruption or sanctions, and to create isolation or estrangement will only push the world into division and even confrontation.” EFE-EPA

abc-jot/ah

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