Observer Report
Beijing
China will continue to work with its partners to develop the Belt & Road into a model of cooperation for meeting challenges through unity, resolve and for the common good of the people and communities of the world.
President Xi Jinping conveyed this in a written message to the high-level video conference on Belt & Road International Cooperation.
Foreign ministers or officials at ministerial level from 25 countries attended the video conference.
The Belt & Road will also be a model of health for protecting people’s safety and well-being, a model of recovery for restoring economic and social activity, and a model of growth for unlocking development potential, Xi said in his goodwill message to the participants of the high-level webinar.
President Xi termed the video conference as “highly important meeting that gives Belt & Road cooperation partners an opportunity to discuss a collective response to COVID-19, advance Belt and Road cooperation, and strengthen international solidarity and cooperation,” said Xi.
He said that the sudden attack of COVID-19 has posed a grave threat to the lives and health of people across the globe. It has dealt a heavy blow to the world economy, and caused tough economic and social challenges for some countries, developing ones in particular.
“To contain the virus, countries have taken robust and effective measures, specific to their national context. On top of that, many countries are striving to resume economic and social development,” Xi said, noting that in China’s case, the people’s lives and well-being have always been put on the front and at the center.
The president made it clear that China would do what it could and would contribute its share to an early global victory against COVID-19 and the recovery of the global economy, the president said.
“Be it in taming the virus or in achieving economic recovery, we cannot succeed without solidarity, cooperation, and multilateralism. The right approach to tackling global crises and realizing long-term development is through greater connectivity, openness, and inclusiveness,” he said.
“This is where Belt & Road international cooperation can make a big difference,” he said, adding that China is committed to peaceful development and mutually beneficial cooperation.
From Pakistan, Foreign Minsiter Shah Mahmood Qureshi participated in the webinar and expressed Pakistani government as well as people’s positive sentiments to the people and the government of China. People of Pakistan have firm belief that the government of China is doing all it can for the wellbeing of its people. He also thanked the Chinese government for its support to the Pakistani government in battle against COVID-19.
Director-General of the World Health Organization Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus and UN Development Programme Administrator Achim Steiner also participated in the event.
Earlier, at the online conference that was held on Thursday under the theme of “”Belt & Road International Cooperation: Combating COVID-19” the participants pledged to continue to work for the collective good and welfare of the people of the B&R countries.
“The COVID-19 pandemic poses a serious threat to human health, safety and well-being as well as the socio-economic development of our countries and the world at large. Our first priority is to contain the spread of the virus, save lives and safeguard global public health,” said the participants in a joint communiqué released after the conference.
“COVID-19 constitutes a global challenge that calls for global response based on unity, solidarity, mutual support and multilateral cooperation. We recognize the central role of the
United Nations system in catalyzing and coordinating the comprehensive global response to control and contain the spread of COVID-19 as well as the efforts of Member States therein, and acknowledge in this regard the key leadership role of the World Health Organization, it was further said.
The participants also called for investment in building sound and resilient health related infrastructures, including the development of telemedicine. “We will provide necessary healthcare support for each other’s citizens affected by COVID-19 in our territories including the frontline health workers and those working for Belt and Road and other programmes within available national,” said they in the joint statement.
