The current COVID-19 pandemic is showing multiple outbreaks and spreading across the world. It is imperative to strengthen international cooperation to fight against it. China has always adhered to the forefront of pandemic prevention and control. While doing an excellent job in domestic prevention and control, China has actively carried out international cooperation in pandemic prevention and control in an open, transparent, and highly responsible manner.

Since the outbreak, China has shared relevant information with the World Health Organization and other countries promptly and strengthened communication and cooperation. Chinese embassies and consulates abroad and other institutions have also maintained close communication and coordination with other countries to introduce China's progress in combating the epidemic and its experience in prevention and control. China has shared many technical documents, including epidemic prevention and control, diagnosis, and treatment programs with more than 100 countries and more than ten international and regional organizations. The Chinese government has donated the US $ 20 million to WHO to support international cooperation against the pandemic.

An Italian girl's drawing to thanks the Chinese medical team's assistance

The Chinese ambassador to South Africa established an information notification mechanism with the South African Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Health promptly, and immediately transmitted the relevant data and information on the pandemic. "This mechanism allows us to learn about the pandemic situation in a timely manner, and at the same time, we can learn from China's experience and make preparations for pandemic prevention," said the Deputy Director-General of the South African Foreign Ministry.

The Chinese Embassy in Singapore maintained information communication with the Singapore Ministry of Health and held a telephone conference with relevant experts from Singapore. "Singapore has developed a viral nucleic acid detection kit and taken appropriate measures thanks to China's active cooperation with the international community." Singapore's Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan believes that China's move "fully reflects the spirit of openness, sharing, and collaboration."

The eighteenth batch of Chinese peacekeeping medical units in Lebanon received a special thank-you letter a few days ago. In the letter, the town of Saatchi in southern Lebanon sincerely thanked the Chinese peacekeeping forces for their long-term medical assistance and wished China an early victory over the epidemic. Previously, given the lack of medical resources in the South Lebanon region, the Chinese peacekeeping force provided targeted a batch of medicines and protective equipment to the town of Saatchi from the limited medical resources and shared the experience of China's national defense epidemic control with local medical staff.

The Chinese Consulate General in Rio de Janeiro gave a lecture at the Brazil Think Tank Vargas Foundation to introduce China's national defense control measures. According to Evandro Carvalho, director of the Center for Chinese Studies at the Brazilian college Getulio Vargas Foundation believes that China's anti-epidemic measures are decisive and efficient, and its information is reliable. More importantly, it actively cooperates with the international community, shares research results, and experiences, and fights the global pandemic. Pakistan and China must be expected further to strengthen cooperation in scientific research and information sharing.

WHO highly recognizes China's contribution to the global fight against the pandemic. Dr. Maria Van Kerkhove, technical leader of the WHO health emergency project, said that China has rich experience in diagnosing cases, treating patients, and preventing and controlling epidemics, which can be used for reference by other countries.

Dr. Maria Van Kerkhove, pic by CNN

For example, foreigners returned to Nanjing must be quarantined for 14 days, fast-food restaurants "non-touch" meals, and "non-contact" temperature measurements in the subway ... Recently, a short documentary about the Chinese people's fight against the epidemic was recommended on the homepage of the Japanese Yahoo website. Japanese netizens reposted and discussed a lot. The short filmmaker and Japanese director who lives in Nanjing, Takeuchi Akira, said he hoped that China's response to the epidemic would provide Japan with a reference.

A team of Chinese volunteer experts in Iran recently held talks with the WHO expert group, and the Iranian Ministry of Health conducted in-depth discussions on the prevention and control of the Iranian epidemic. Iranian Red Crescent Society President Peravi said: "The experience of China's national defense epidemic is precious. Thanks for China's assistance." Iran has translated the COVID-19 diagnosis and treatment plan provided by the Chinese National Health Commission into Persian and released it. In the meanwhile, they provided the public with guidance on fighting the epidemic issued by relevant Chinese research institutions.

On Iranian social media, more than 200 volunteer organizations, the China-Iranian Epidemic Prevention Mutual Aid Team, shared scientific knowledge about the prevention and treatment of the COVID-19 in Iran through the translation of texts and videos. The group member and Iranian tour guide Zavid said that many Iranians had learned the epidemic prevention experience and regard epidemic more rationally. "China's ongoing international cooperation very moves us in fighting the epidemic," said an Iranian ambassador to China.

The Chinese Disease Control and Prevention Center has appointed a senior technical consultant to the African Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the two parties are working closely to strengthen African epidemic prevention and control. Raji, head of the African Center for Disease Control's Public Health Institute, praised China's active participation in global epidemic prevention and control. He said that China provided a large number of diagnostic tools and related case management manuals to help Africa diagnose cases and develop clinical care. "African countries are relying on China's relevant experience to work hard to prevent and control the epidemic. In the face of the pandemic, no country or institution can respond to it alone, and the international community should work together.

The global research network of related fields led by Chinese researchers is rapidly growing, and researchers are racing against time to develop methods to deal with the COVID-19 virus. "The Chinese scientific community soon released information on the biology of the virus, molecular epidemiology, and information about monoclonal antibodies, which is amazing," said Robert Scully, a professor at the Department of Infectious Diseases and Global Public Health at the University of California, San Diego. The relevant information shared by researchers is essential to fight the pandemic, and the American medical community is learning from it. "The COVID-19 pandemic reminds us that international cooperation in the fields of science and public health is essential," said Pradeep Khosla, the school's principal.

"China has built a specialized hospital as quickly as possible, and many of the measures we have taken are practical and effective. We have broad prospects for anti-epidemic cooperation with China," said Sonni Gwanle Tyoden, deputy governor of the Nigerian Plateau State, recently held the Nigeria-China Local Cooperation Forum. Forum Secretary-General noted that Nigeria would strengthen surveillance and screening, strengthen cooperation with China, and work together to combat the pandemic.

Marc Van Ranst, a medical expert at the University of Leuven in the Dutch-speaking region of Belgium, pointed out that China's robust response measures have given precious time to countries to fight the pandemic, and they have brought many inspirations to other countries and are worth learning from.

Chilean Health Minister Jaime Mañalich said that the Chilean government would send an expert group to China to learn from China's experience in fighting the epidemic. The Chinese government's measures for the prevention and control were timely and practical, with remarkable results. "China's experience brings confidence to countries in defeating the epidemic. Chile hopes to strengthen exchanges and cooperation with China in the areas of epidemic prevention and control and public health governance."

Source: People's Daily, CQFAO