Scholars say Xi's proposals at WHA important to global pandemic combat

BEIJING - Experts and scholars across the world spoke highly of Chinese President Xi Jinping's Monday speech at the 73rd World Health Assembly (WHA), hailing his proposals are of great importance to promote global cooperation in the pandemic fight.

Addressing the opening of the WHA session via video link, Xi announced concrete measures to boost global fight against COVID-19, such as providing international aid and making the country's COVID-19 vaccine a global public good when available.

According to the scholars, Xi's speech upholds the vision of building a global community of health for all and demonstrates China's sense of responsibility amid the crisis.

Ren Minghui, assistant director-general for Universal Health Coverage/Communicable and Noncommunicable Diseases of the World Health Organization (WHO), said Xi's speech is visionary and pragmatic, which once again demonstrates China's firm belief in building a community with a shared future for mankind.

Xi not only talked about how to effectively prevent and control the spread of the disease, but also on support for economic recovery and social development of the affected countries, especially developing countries, as well as for the WHO's actions, Ren said.

Nadhum Ali Abdullah, an Iraqi analyst from Baghdad-based think tank Arab Forum, said Xi's speech at the WHA sent a message that "the mankind has a common destiny, and that China is opening its doors to international cooperation to combat this pandemic."

Igor Shatrov, deputy director of Russia's National Institute for the Development of Modern Ideology, said the coronavirus pandemic is a "serious test" in which "humanity must realize that we live in a single world and have a common destiny, so it should unite in the face of a global threat."

Noting that China's efforts are particularly remarkable amid the pandemic, Sylwester Szafarz, former consul general of Poland in the Chinese city of Shanghai, said, "They are aiming at sharing valuable Chinese experience and expertise, modern equipment and highly qualified medical personnel with numerous other nations in need."

Adhere Cavince, a Kenyan researcher of international relations with a focus on China-Africa relations, said that global health governance requires urgent strengthening, adding that "such cooperation can only take place when countries deal with each other in an honest, transparent, and reciprocal manner."

French writer and sinologist Sonia Bressler pointed out that Xi's speech confirms "an opening of China to the world and a shared and collective responsibility."

Noting China's support and help to African countries in the fight against the pandemic, she said the brotherhood is necessary, demonstrating Xi's Chinese vision of "Tianxia," which "means we all live under the same sky."