Solidarity means strength: The anti-pandemic experience of China
At the beginning of 2020, an outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic never seen before raged around the world, posing a severe threat to the safety and health of all human beings.
As one of the first stricken countries, through months’ painstaking efforts and tremendous sacrifice, China has achieved an initial victory in containing the spread of the virus.
On 7 June, the Chinese government released a paper titled Fighting Covid-19 China in Action, introducing the experience of fighting the disease and clarifying its ideas on the global battle. Herewith, I would like to share it with Namibia.
Safety first
People’s safety always comes first and saving lives is the top priority. The Chinese government has always put people’s lives and health first.
When the novel coronavirus struck, China decided that it would protect the lives and health of its people, even at the cost of a severe economic downturn. The government took unprecedented lockdown measures. Meanwhile, rigorous measures were taken to prevent population flows, namely extending the Chinese New Year vacation, calling off public gatherings and postponing the opening of businesses and schools.
From the onset, China’s goal in its medical response has been to improve a cure rate and reduce the fatality rate. It saved the lives of severe cases at all costs and applied early intervention for patients with mild symptoms.
From an infant only 30 hours old to a centenarian, the government has taken measures to ensure that every kind of vulnerable patient was hospitalised, treated, tested or quarantined as appropriate, and never gave up on even one patient.
To date, in Hubei, more than 3 000 patients over the age of 80, including seven centenarians, have been cured. Furthermore, in order for everyone to receive timely treatment, the government quickly adjusted its policies for medical insurance and put a cushion in place for those infected.
People’s war
The Chinese government mobilised the whole country and galvanised the people into a nationwide response. Since the outbreak, President Xi Jinping assumed full command over the efforts.
Through rolling out the response measures, China launched a people’s war on the virus.
The general public shouldered their responsibilities, cancelled visits, stayed at home, wore masks and executed social distancing. They made great sacrifices to win the battle against the pandemic.
More than 40 000 medical workers came to the immediate aid of Hubei and the city of Wuhan. Around 40 000 construction workers completed the 1 000-bed Huoshenshan Hospital in just 10 days, and built 16 temporary treatment centres in only two weeks.
The 1.4 billion Chinese people have plunged themselves into the battle against the pandemic, united as one, representing a formidable force. They were the most critical factor for China’s victory in this fight.
Scientific approach
China stuck to a scientific approach and gathered top scientific research resources around the nation to pinpoint key research and development areas.
It also adopted a multi-level, category-specific, dynamic and targeted control manner and new technologies such as big data and artificial intelligence.
China has successively formulated and amended seven versions of diagnosis and treatment protocol and shared them with other countries immediately. Upholding the principle of transparency, China provided the world with information on Covid-19 in a thoroughly professional and efficient way on a regular basis.
Proposals for global fight
The worldwide spread of Covid-19 shows that all countries are living in a global village in this age of globalisation. Based on its own experience, China would like to put forward three proposals for the global fight against the pandemic.
Firstly, advocating for international solidarity and cooperation. The coronavirus respects no nationality or race. We must understand it has nothing to do with ideology and to stamp it out relies on science and joint efforts.
Second, upholding science and rationality. Science and technology are the bazookas human beings can count on in the battle against this virus. Such battle could not be waged without scientific advances and technological innovation.
Confronted by Covid-19, a new and previously unknown virus, it is especially important to uphold the spirit of science and rationality.
Furthermore, every state should firmly stand against the stigmatisation and politicisation of the virus and abandon prejudice and arrogance.
Thirdly, jointly building a global community of health for all.
The pandemic has exposed weaknesses and deficiencies existing in the global governance system for public health security. Every country is obliged to draw lessons from this pandemic, reflect carefully, build an efficient and sustainable global public health system, fortify defences, and participate in building a global health community.
This is in the interest of future generations and the well-being of all humanity.
Global community
At present, the coronavirus is still on the rampage and causing devastation around the world. China will continue to embrace the idea of a global community, standing with other countries in the spirit of solidarity, cooperation, science, rationality, responsibility and transparency, to win the fight.
We firmly believe that solidarity means strength, and the world surely will win this battle at last.
*Zhang Yiming is the Chinese ambassador to Namibia.
As one of the first stricken countries, through months’ painstaking efforts and tremendous sacrifice, China has achieved an initial victory in containing the spread of the virus.
On 7 June, the Chinese government released a paper titled Fighting Covid-19 China in Action, introducing the experience of fighting the disease and clarifying its ideas on the global battle. Herewith, I would like to share it with Namibia.
Safety first
People’s safety always comes first and saving lives is the top priority. The Chinese government has always put people’s lives and health first.
When the novel coronavirus struck, China decided that it would protect the lives and health of its people, even at the cost of a severe economic downturn. The government took unprecedented lockdown measures. Meanwhile, rigorous measures were taken to prevent population flows, namely extending the Chinese New Year vacation, calling off public gatherings and postponing the opening of businesses and schools.
From the onset, China’s goal in its medical response has been to improve a cure rate and reduce the fatality rate. It saved the lives of severe cases at all costs and applied early intervention for patients with mild symptoms.
From an infant only 30 hours old to a centenarian, the government has taken measures to ensure that every kind of vulnerable patient was hospitalised, treated, tested or quarantined as appropriate, and never gave up on even one patient.
To date, in Hubei, more than 3 000 patients over the age of 80, including seven centenarians, have been cured. Furthermore, in order for everyone to receive timely treatment, the government quickly adjusted its policies for medical insurance and put a cushion in place for those infected.
People’s war
The Chinese government mobilised the whole country and galvanised the people into a nationwide response. Since the outbreak, President Xi Jinping assumed full command over the efforts.
Through rolling out the response measures, China launched a people’s war on the virus.
The general public shouldered their responsibilities, cancelled visits, stayed at home, wore masks and executed social distancing. They made great sacrifices to win the battle against the pandemic.
More than 40 000 medical workers came to the immediate aid of Hubei and the city of Wuhan. Around 40 000 construction workers completed the 1 000-bed Huoshenshan Hospital in just 10 days, and built 16 temporary treatment centres in only two weeks.
The 1.4 billion Chinese people have plunged themselves into the battle against the pandemic, united as one, representing a formidable force. They were the most critical factor for China’s victory in this fight.
Scientific approach
China stuck to a scientific approach and gathered top scientific research resources around the nation to pinpoint key research and development areas.
It also adopted a multi-level, category-specific, dynamic and targeted control manner and new technologies such as big data and artificial intelligence.
China has successively formulated and amended seven versions of diagnosis and treatment protocol and shared them with other countries immediately. Upholding the principle of transparency, China provided the world with information on Covid-19 in a thoroughly professional and efficient way on a regular basis.
Proposals for global fight
The worldwide spread of Covid-19 shows that all countries are living in a global village in this age of globalisation. Based on its own experience, China would like to put forward three proposals for the global fight against the pandemic.
Firstly, advocating for international solidarity and cooperation. The coronavirus respects no nationality or race. We must understand it has nothing to do with ideology and to stamp it out relies on science and joint efforts.
Second, upholding science and rationality. Science and technology are the bazookas human beings can count on in the battle against this virus. Such battle could not be waged without scientific advances and technological innovation.
Confronted by Covid-19, a new and previously unknown virus, it is especially important to uphold the spirit of science and rationality.
Furthermore, every state should firmly stand against the stigmatisation and politicisation of the virus and abandon prejudice and arrogance.
Thirdly, jointly building a global community of health for all.
The pandemic has exposed weaknesses and deficiencies existing in the global governance system for public health security. Every country is obliged to draw lessons from this pandemic, reflect carefully, build an efficient and sustainable global public health system, fortify defences, and participate in building a global health community.
This is in the interest of future generations and the well-being of all humanity.
Global community
At present, the coronavirus is still on the rampage and causing devastation around the world. China will continue to embrace the idea of a global community, standing with other countries in the spirit of solidarity, cooperation, science, rationality, responsibility and transparency, to win the fight.
We firmly believe that solidarity means strength, and the world surely will win this battle at last.
*Zhang Yiming is the Chinese ambassador to Namibia.
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