According to the World Health Organization, there have been more than 40 million Coronavirus worldwide, and this number is still increasing at a rate of 300,000 to 400,000 per day.
The second wave of the epidemic hits fiercely, and the lives of people in various countries are continuously and severely threatened. The global economy, which has just improved, is facing huge challenges. “Solidarity and cooperation” should no longer be verbal rhetoric, but should become a “strategic consensus” that the world practices.
As the northern hemisphere enters winter, the number of global Coronavirus cases has accelerated, and the rebound of the epidemic in Europe and the United States is most obvious.
Due to the spread of the Coronavirus, the International Monetary Fund predicts that global economic growth will turn from positive to negative in 2020, and major economies, except China, will fall into a quagmire of negative growth. However, when the world is facing huge challenges, politicians in some countries not only do not promote unity to respond, but continue to shove blame and engage in decoupling confrontation.
The current world is faced with multiple crises in the fields of health, economy, and politics. The international community needs to be soberly aware of the severity of the current challenges, strengthen unity and cooperation, and overcome difficulties together.
To unite and fight the epidemic requires joint prevention and control, exchange of experience and technology, and joint research and development of vaccines. The World Health Organization announced a few days ago that 184 countries and regions have joined the “New Coronary Pneumonia Vaccine Implementation Plan” initiated by WHO and its partners. More countries are expected to obtain the new coronavirus vaccine fairly and effectively, and that the vaccine will be effective and fair. Sharing is the fastest way to protect high-risk groups, maintain the stability of the global health system, and truly promote global economic recovery.
In addition to vaccines, cooperation among countries in other areas of the epidemic should also be strengthened. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has stated many times that the Coronavirus epidemic has entered a “worrying stage” and governments of all countries should make full use of comprehensive measures that have been proven effective to contain the spread of the virus and save lives. What is gratifying is that scientific epidemic prevention measures such as frequent hand washing, wearing masks, precise tracking, and strengthening of quarantine are becoming more and more recognized and used by the world, which will help better inhibit the spread of the virus.
To unite and work together to fight the epidemic requires countries to balance epidemic prevention and control with economic restart, eliminate trade barriers, and curb the economic downturn by expanding openness and cooperation, and coordinating fiscal and monetary policies. During the epidemic, some economies adopted export restrictions and other measures, which caused a shortage of anti-epidemic supplies such as medical supplies on the international market, affecting the global economic recovery process. Former WTO Director-General Azevedo has repeatedly emphasized that “no country can be self-sufficient, no matter how powerful or advanced it is.”
During the epidemic, trade can ensure the efficient production and supply of basic daily necessities, medical supplies, and services; after the epidemic has eased, trade can help countries’ economies recover faster and more robustly. The forthcoming third China International Import Expo shows that China is helping to revitalize the world economy by opening wider to the outside world. Other economies are also responsible for jointly promoting trade, especially the development of trade in goods, while protecting the safety of people.
To unite and work together to fight the epidemic requires all countries to jointly improve the global governance system, including supporting international multilateral platforms such as the World Health Organization and the WTO, to deal with global challenges in a more effective and orderly manner. The COVID-19 pandemic is prompting close cooperation between international organizations in many specialized fields. At present, WHO is working with the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank to assist countries with weaker public health systems in fighting the epidemic; working with the WTO to ensure the cross-border flow of anti-epidemic products and services; and cooperating with the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization to ensure the food supply chain Normal operation u2026u2026
Epidemic prevention under globalization is a systematic project. No country can defeat the virus alone. Only by comprehensively strengthening cooperation in related fields can countries control the epidemic and restore the economy as soon as possible. As an epidemic prevention expert, Tedros has repeatedly emphasized the importance of countries showing “political will”.
As the number of people infected with the Coronavirus exceeds 40 million, global challenges call for global unity, strict epidemic prevention, refrain from politicizing the epidemic, and develop the economy to protect people’s livelihood. Practice can truly benefit all mankind.
