President Xi announces $2 billion international aid

By Masood Sattar Khan
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

China has announced to provide 2 billion US dollars over the next couple of years years to help with COVID-19 response and with economic and social development in affected countries, especially developing countries.

The Chinese President, Xi Jinping made the announcement at the opening of the 73rd session of the World Health Assembly (WHA) via video link at the invitation of the World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, on May 18. 

The 73rd session of the WHA, which will continue until May 19, is being held online because of the coronavirus pandemic. The COVID-19 and selection of executive board members were on the agenda. 

"In China, after making painstaking efforts and enormous sacrifice, we have turned the tide on the virus and protected the life and health of our people," the Chinese President remarked while mourning for every life lost to COVID-19 globally and expressing condolence to the bereaved families. 

He highlighted that China all along has acted with openness, transparency and responsibility in the fight against COVID-19. 

“China has shared control and treatment experience with the world without reservation and has done everything in our power to support and assist countries in need,” President Xi asserted. 

During his address, he made six proposals to bring COVID-19 under control with the most urgent task being doing everything we can for COVID-19 control and treatment. 

He called for curbing the global spread of the virus and stemming cross-border transmission as soon as possible. Voicing firm support to the WHO, he urged the august body to lead the global response. 

"At this crucial juncture, to support WHO is to support international cooperation and the battle for saving lives as well," he emphasized.

He also urged the world to provide greater support for Africa and pointed out helping developing countries especially African countries with weaker public health system should be the world's top priority in COVID-19 response. 

President Xi shared that China has assisted to over 50 African countries and the African Union since the outbreak and five teams of Chinese medical experts have also been sent to the African continent. 46 resident Chinese medical teams are also in Africa helping with COVID-19 containment efforts locally. 

"We must strengthen global governance in the area of public health. China supports the idea of a comprehensive review of the global response to COVID-19 after it is brought under control to sum up the experience and address deficiencies,” he added. 

The Chinese President also emphasized on restoring economic and social development globally besides calling for keeping global industrial and supply chains stable and unclogged when conditions permitted. Believing that mankind was a community with a shared future, he suggested that the world should strengthen international cooperation as solidarity and cooperation is the most powerful weapon for defeating the virus. 

“China takes it as its responsibility to ensure not just the life and health of its own citizens but also global public health,” President Xi said while calling for building a global community of health for all. 

In addition to the 2 billion US dollar worth aid package, the Chinese President also announced that China will work with the UN to set up a global humanitarian response depot and hub in China. 

“China will establish a cooperation mechanism for its hospitals to pair up with 30 African hospitals and accelerate the building of the Africa CDC headquarters to help the continent ramp up its disease preparedness and control capacity,” he declared. 

“COVID-19 vaccine development and deployment in China, when available, will be made a global public good, which will be China's contribution to ensuring vaccine accessibility and affordability in developing countries,” he assured 

In his address, President Xi also revealed China will work with other G20 members to implement the Debt Service Suspension Initiative for the poorest countries.