A news report by Science and Technology Daily:

The 73rd World Health Assembly (WHA) was held in a special period of time when 
the outbreak of COVID-19 put the world in a complex situation, and the virus is 
still raging worldwide. Therefore, mankind is facing the most serious global 
public health emergency since the end of World War II, the pandemic has become 
the core topic of discussion in the international community. In such an 
important historical moment, President Xi was invited to address a speech at 
the opening ceremony of WHA. He set forth the proposition of how China fight 
against pandemic profoundly and outlined a series of important initiatives from 
vision of building Community of Common Health for Mankind. These initiatives 
have important practical and far-reaching implications, for boosting global 
confidence, promoting international collaboration, and planning future global 
governance systems. 

First, the world should further share experience in pandemic prevention and 
control. President Xi emphasized that the top priority in response to the 
pandemic is that countries must do everything they can for COVID-19 control and 
treatment. The world should insist on the idea of "putting the people first, 
for nothing in the world is more precious than people's lives", contain the 
spread of the epidemic around the world as soon as possible, and try our best 
to stop the cross-border disease transmission. We need to step up information 
sharing, exchange experience and best practice, and pursue international 
cooperation on testing methods, clinical treatment, and vaccine and medicine 
research and development. We also need to continue supporting global research 
by scientists on the source and transmission routes of the virus. While working 
on an ongoing basis to contain the virus, countries where conditions permit may 
reopen businesses and schools in an orderly fashion in observance of WHO's 
professional recommendations. In the meantime, international macroeconomic 
policy coordination should be stepped up and the global industrial and supply 
chains be kept stable and unclogged if we are to restore growth to the world 
economy. These suggestions not only summarized China's successful experience, 
but also provided a new way of thinking to coordinate epidemic prevention and 
control, and economic and social development in line with the current situation 
of countries in the fight against the epidemic.

Second, the world should unite more. President Xi emphasized that solidarity 
and cooperation are the most powerful weapons against the pandemic. It is of 
great importance to help developing countries, especially African countries, to 
build up the defence system in this battle against COVID-19. Xi also called on 
the international community to provide African countries with more support in 
terms of goods and materials, technology and personnel. The World Health 
Organization (WHO), as Xi stressed, should play a leading role, and by 
supporting the WHO people are in support of international cooperation against 
COVID-19 and saving lives. Xi also appealed to the international community to 
strengthen their support in the WHO both politically and financially. All that 
mentioned above manifest China's close attention to Africa and firm support of 
the United Nations and the WHO, which contributes to uniting the cooperated 
efforts of the international community and winning this battle against the 
pandemic by allocating global resources.

Third, it shows China's responsibility as a major country in the world. 
President Xi announced China's five major measures to further support global 
cooperation in fighting against COVID-19. This will be China's contribution to 
ensuring vaccine accessibility and affordability in developing countries. Also, 
China will work with the UN to set up a global humanitarian response depot and 
hub in China to ensure the operation of anti-epidemic supply chains and foster 
"green corridors" for fast-track transportation and customs clearance. 
Furthermore, China will establish a cooperation mechanism for its hospitals to 
pair up with 30 African hospitals and accelerate the building of the Africa CDC 
headquarters, which aims to increase the continent's capacity to prevent and 
control diseases. COVID-19 vaccine development and deployment in China, when 
available, will be made a global public good. This will be China's contribution 
to ensuring vaccine accessibility and affordability in developing countries. 
For those poorest countries, China will also work with other G20 members to 
implement the Debt Service Suspension Initiative. China is also ready to work 
with the international community to support for the hardest-hit countries to 
make sure that they get through the current difficulties. These concrete 
measures address the key and difficult points in the global fight against 
COVID-19 at present and in the years to come. They demonstrate China's 
commitment to building a community with a shared future for mankind. China 
takes it as its responsibility to ensure not just the life and health of its 
own citizens, but also global public health.

Fourth, it clearly pointed out the direction for cooperation. COVID-19 came 
with an unexpected bang, which had a profound influence on the human kind and 
brought much introspection. President Xi noted that we will eventually prevail 
over the coronavirus. Yet this may not be the last time a major health 
emergency comes knocking at our door. Based on the weaknesses and deficiencies 
exposed by COVID-19, we need to improve the governance system of public health 
and respond more quickly to public health emergencies. Xi also suggested the 
establishment of global and regional reserve centers of anti-epidemic supplies. 
China supports the idea of a comprehensive review of the global response to 
COVID-19 after it is brought under control to sum up experience and address 
deficiencies. This work should be based on science and professionalism, led by 
WHO and conducted in an objective and impartial manner. These suggestions are 
put forward from a long-term perspective, which also points out a direction for 
strengthening international cooperation in public health and improving global 
health administration system.

SOURCE: Science and Technology Daily