On April 30, the State Council Information Office of the People's Republic of China published a white paper titled "COVID-19 Prevention, Control and Origins Tracing: China's Actions and Stance." Released amid renewed criticism from the United States, the document lays out a "People first, life first" philosophy and invites the global community to join forces against future pandemics.
From the early days of the outbreak, China prioritized transparency and cooperation. Here's how the country mobilized resources and shared knowledge worldwide:
- Data Sharing: Beginning January 3, 2020, China provided regular updates to the WHO, partner countries and regional organizations, and the regions of Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan. The genome sequence was submitted to the WHO on January 12, kicking off a global research effort.
- Financial Aid: Two initial contributions totaling $50 million supported the WHO and its COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund.
- Expert Missions: In 2020, 38 medical expert teams visited 34 countries, conducted 461 training sessions for over 1.65 million healthcare workers, and engaged with more than 300 media outlets.
- Supplies: From January 2020 to May 2022, China shipped over 4.6 billion protective suits, 18 billion testing kits and 430 billion masks to 15 international organizations and 153 countries, including the United States.
- Vaccine Diplomacy: Since late 2020, more than 2.3 billion doses of COVID-19 vaccines have been delivered to over 120 countries and international organizations.
With these efforts, China seeks to turn its pandemic experience into a blueprint for global solidarity. By sharing data, expertise and vaccines, the country aims to foster a world where cooperation trumps competition in safeguarding public health.
As the pandemic continues to challenge healthcare systems and economies, the white paper's call to action underscores the importance of timely information exchange and collective response. For young global citizens, entrepreneurs and changemakers, it's a reminder that in the face of a common threat, unity and open collaboration remain our strongest tools.
Reference(s):
China's wisdom and contribution in fighting COVID-19 pandemic
cgtn.com
