30 May 2020

The Chinese embassy in Gaborone says China stands to provide greater support for Africa and strengthen global governance in the area of public health.

According to a statement from the embassy, Chinese President Xi Jinping made six proposals for fighting against COVID-19 pandemic at the World Health Assembly (WHA), which include doing everything for COVID-19 control and treatment, upholding WHO’s leadership role in the global response, providing greater support for Africa, strengthening global governance in the area of public health, restoring economic and social development, and strengthening international cooperation.

President Xi also announced five important measures to strengthen global cooperation against COVID-19, including providing US$2 billion of international aid especially for the developing countries in the next two years, working with the UN to set up a global humanitarian response depot and hub in China.

The statement notes that China and Botswana should take the opportunity to further strengthen joint fight against COVID-19 and advance the implementation of the new measures announced by President Xi at the 73rd WHA and the health initiative adopted by the 2018 FOCAC Beijing Summit.

China will also establish cooperation mechanism for its hospitals to pair up with 30 African hospitals and accelerate the building of the Africa Centre Disease Control (CDC) headquarters as well as making China's COVID-19 vaccine development and deployment a global public good when available.

President Xi further says China would work with other G20 members to implement the Debt Service Suspension Initiative for the poorest countries.

China is also ready to work with the international community to bolster support for the hardest-hit countries under the greatest strain so that they could tide over the current difficulties.

The statement quotes President Xi as saying COVID-19 was still rampant around the world and made nations learn that life and health of people in different countries have been so closely connected.

“One country's success does not mean the end of the global pandemic. Only when the virus is defeated in all countries can we claim a true victory. Developing countries, African countries in particular, have weaker public health systems. Helping them build capacity must be the top priority in COVID-19 response.”

The statement further says China, since the outbreak of the pandemic, has held a series of video conferences with health experts from African countries to share experiences of diagnosis, treatment and control without any reservation, donated multiple batches of quality medical supplies and equipment to all those in need, and sent medical expert teams to Africa's five sub-regions and surrounding countries.

“By doing so, we are also reciprocating the support we received from our African brothers”.

The Assembly adopted a landmark resolution to bring the world together to fight the novel coronavirus, sending a strong message that global unity was the most powerful tool to combat the outbreak. ENDS