China leads global cooperation efforts

A worker transfers a shipment of China's Sinovac COVID-19 vaccine at Phnom Penh International Airport in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, on Nov 17. [Photo/Xinhua]  

By Muhammad Zamir Assadi 

By promoting the "Health Silk Road" under the broader framework of the Belt and Road Initiative and continuing efforts to help build a community with a shared future for mankind, China has proved that every human life is precious.

The ravaging impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic have exposed many developed economies' hollow claims that they would turn their countries into "arsenals of vaccines" to protect the life and health of the people, as the numbers of both infections and deaths in those countries continue to increase. Not to mention these developed economies have not fulfilled their commitment to contribute COVID-19 vaccines and funds to COVAX and other global initiatives to facilitate equitable access to vaccines worldwide.

The volumes of donations and supplies of medical equipment, including safety kits and personal protection equipment, and vaccines, show China has kept all its promises to contribute to the global fight against the pandemic. Indeed, China's response is in line with its track record of fulfilling its global responsibilities in tackling global, common issues.

On the one hand, China without any proof or basis was accused by some Western leaders and media outlets of spreading the novel coronavirus worldwide, with some claiming it had leaked from a lab in Wuhan. On the other hand, under the leadership of President Xi Jinping, China has spearheaded perhaps the largest humanitarian initiative to save people's lives both at home and abroad.

That China has largely succeeded in its efforts can be attributed to the visionary leadership of the Communist Party of China which, ignoring the baseless Western allegations, focused on helping the international community to contain the pandemic.

The allegations and smear campaigns against China were largely trashed by the World Health Organization investigation team, which almost ruled out the possibility of the virus leaking from a lab. The US and other Western media outlets floated the conspiracy theory against China in order to downplay the importance of China's humanitarian assistance worldwide-and contain China's rise.

The pandemic has created more challenges and geopolitical issues. China is one of the few countries promoting cooperation against the virus. It has also provided unconditional support for developing and least-developed countries to fight the pandemic, for which it has drawn the international community's praise.

Moreover, China has carried out these humanitarian activities without indulging in competition with any country; instead, it has focused on sharing its experience in containing the virus at home with other countries and helping them with vaccines and medicines.

Apart from fulfilling its commitment to COVAX, China has also supported-through additional contributions and donations-the WHO's efforts to ensure every country gets enough vaccine doses to inoculate its population. In addition, it is sharing vaccine production technology with some other developing countries so the vaccines produced there can be more easily supplied to countries most in need.

With its helping hand and open heart, China is boosting global cooperation and fulfilling President Xi's pledge to make the vaccines global public goods.

On the home front, scientific and effective prevention and control measures have helped China to largely contain the pandemic and revive the economy. President Xi has provided perfect guidance for China to lead the global battle against the virus from the front. And China's campaign against the pandemic has shown the challenges, no matter how complicated, are not stronger than human will. By making the right decision at the right time, we can achieve victory in any battle.

China's cooperation with other countries to combat the virus at the regional and international level has also helped many countries gradually realize economic recovery.

China is leading the world not only in the fight against COVID-19 but also in facilitating sustained global economic recovery. In fact, China's early economic recovery has strengthened its economic resilience and helped it to contribute more to global economic growth.

The solid performance of the Chinese economy and the increase in production activities have boosted the business prospects of Chinese enterprises, which together with China's promotion of free global trade, have expanded, as well as brought stability and predictability to, international trade.

The author is a journalist with Independent News Pakistan.