By Chinese Ambassador to Guyana CUI Jianchun
THE cases of COVID-19 and number of countries affected are continuously rising around the world. Several cases were confirmed in Guyana. In the age of globalization, virus knows no borders. In face of this common public health challenge, no country can stand alone. Fully cooperating with each other with mutual respect and upholding the concept of building a community of shared future for mankind is the best choice to combat the pandemic.

China is one of the countries hit hard by the disease. As families were celebrating the Spring Festival, the sudden attack of this brand-new virus has brought great harm to many Chinese people. Valuing people’s lives and health above all, the Chinese government has adopted the most comprehensive, strictest and most thorough prevention and control measures in history. Anti-epidemic campaigns started in cities, villages, factories, and streets. People across the country united as one, watched out for each other, and struggled with indomitable resilience, creating miracles such as the construction of two hospitals with more than 2,500 beds in only a dozen days.

Leaders of more than 170 countries including Guyana and heads of more than 40 international and regional organizations expressed their sympathies and supports to China, and many countries provided China with urgently needed medical supplies. China’s epidemic prevention and control has achieved remarkable results. As of March 16, the number of new cases per day in China has dropped from the peak of 15,152 to 21, and the confirmed cases in 13 provinces fell to zero. The WHO believes that China’s prevention and control measures changed the dangerous course of the rapid spread of the epidemic and reduced hundreds of thousands of cases nationwide. The slowing down of China’s epidemic has protected international security, built the first line of defence against the spread, and earned time for the world to fight the pandemic.

Since the beginning of the outbreak, China has been adopting an open, transparent and responsible manner in international cooperation. WHO has been well and timely informed. China shared full genome sequence, primers and probes of the virus with the international community. China also shared many technical documents, including our epidemic prevention and control measures, as well as diagnosis and treatment plans, with more than 100 countries around the world and over 10 international and regional organizations. The Chinese government donated 20 million USD to WHO to support it carrying out international cooperation in fighting the epidemic and helping developing countries improve their ability to respond to the epidemic. After the severe outbreaks in Japan, South Korea, Italy, Iran and other countries that once supported China, China has, within its ability, dispatched several medical expert teams to relevant countries and donated a large number of medical supplies. Medical supplies including masks and protective clothing provided by China to Guyana will also arrive here shortly.

Just as Guyana’s national motto “One people, One Nation, One Destiny”, all the countries are in the same global village, and we share the common destiny. Upholding the concept of a community of shared future for mankind, China is willing to continue to work hand in hand with all countries to jointly welcome the ultimate victory in tackling the pandemic.