China sets an example in the global fight against COVID-19

A Special Session of the United Nation General Assembly (UNGASS) in Response to the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Pandemic was held on Dec 3-4. The pandemic has swallowed more than 1.3 million lives, infected more than 54 million people, and toppled the livelihoods of even more all over the world. It could end up creating the worst global recession. The pandemic has uncovered vulnerabilities and aggravated inequalities within and among developing and developed countries, hitting the most destitute and most helpless people particularly hard. COVID-19 has emerged as a new global truth that no one can deny.

The United Nations systemwide response to COVID-19 has been founded on three pillars: a large-scale, coordinated, comprehensive health response; a wide-ranging effort to protect lives and livelihoods; and a transformative recovery process. The World Health Organization and the United Nations propelled a coordinated global humanitarian response plan to mitigate the immediate impacts of COVID-19 in some of the world's most vulnerable countries. The COVID-19 Global Humanitarian Response Plan is being executed by UN agencies in partnership with vital local and international partners on the response's front lines.

Supplementing the UN humanitarian efforts to help countries recover better, the United Nations has also developed a global framework for the pandemic's immediate socioeconomic response. The COVID-19 Response and Recovery Fund supports this. To date, above 100 UN country teams support government efforts through dedicated country-specific socioeconomic response plans.
World leaders, United Nations principals and other relevant participants will engage in dialogue on the pandemic's impacts on people, societies and economies and discuss the multifaceted, coordinated response required to address this crisis. The two-day special session will allow many stakeholders to share their experiences in struggling against the pandemic, reflect on the global response to date, and forge a united, coordinated and people-centered path forward.

The first day of the special session on Dec 3 consisted of an inaugural section followed by a general discussion focused on the experiences of member states. The interactive dialogue on Dec 4 entailed a series of moderated panels covering critical aspects of the impact of, and response to, the COVID-19 pandemic, including the UN system's health and humanitarian response to date, the road to a COVID-19 vaccine, and the socioeconomic impact and recovering better.

UN Secretary-General Guterres said that, "From the start, the World Health Organization provided factual information and scientific guidance that should have been the basis for a coordinated global response. Unfortunately, many of these recommendations were not followed. And in some circumstances, there was a rejection of facts and an ignoring of the guidance." He also expressed, "In a global crisis, we must meet the expectations of those we serve with unity, solidarity and harmonized global multilateral action."

State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi attended the session on behalf of President Xi Jinping and delivered a speech via video link. Faced with a second wave of COVID-19, the global fight against it has entered a challenging stage. It is hoped that all sides can strengthen solidarity, expand consensus and cooperate in this fight to achieve victory as soon as possible.

State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi offered few brilliant proposals at the special session. First, we need to act decisively to encompass the spread of the virus. Second, we need to augment solidarity and cooperation. The major countries, in particular, must play a model role in promoting collaboration. Third, we need to coordinate COVID-19 control and economic and social development, chase a "green recovery" of the economy, and keep global industrial and supply chains steady. Fourth, we need to support developing countries and provide more generous humanitarian aid to the most vulnerable people to lessen the problem of developing countries. Fifth, we need to substitute an enabling international environment for the fight against COVID-19. It is believed that all sides should heed the international community's joint call, eliminate all forms of unilateral sanctions and other unilateral obligatory measures, and foster a sound environment for unity against the pandemic.

Since COVID-19 broke out, the Chinese government has put people first, given utmost importance to saving human lives, made scientific and targeted efforts to prevent and control the pandemic, and become the first one that effectively managed the virus. China has carried out global humanitarian assistance programs that were the biggest in China's history and shouldered the responsibility as the world's biggest medical supplies provider. China is ready to stay in close liaison and cooperation with the WHO and other countries, support the WHO's critical leading role in global anti-epidemic efforts, and contribute to an early victory in the fight against the virus and in building a worldwide community of health for all.

Zamir Ahmed Awan is a Sinologist and ex-diplomat.

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