Ambassador explains Chinese role in curbing COVID-19

By Masood Sattar Khan 
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan, Yao Jing, attended the preparation and response plan of the new crown epidemic on April 24. According to the details shared by the Chinese Embassy in Islamabad, Ambassador Yao Jing was invited to attend the Pakistan New Crown Outbreak Preparation and Response Plan (PPRP) on video conference.

The meeting, organized by the Pakistani Ministry of Foreign Affairs, was also attended by Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Minister of Economic Affairs, Khasro Bakhtiar, Prime Minister’s Health Adviser Dr Zafar Mirza, Chairman of the National Disaster Management Authority, General Muhammad Afzal, WHO Director-General, Tan Desai besides the representatives of World Bank, United Nations, UNICEF, UNHCR, Asian Development Bank, Islamic Development Bank and envoys from more than 20 countries. 

Besides China, envoys from the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Canada, the European Union, Japan, and South Korea were also in attendance 

The Pakistani side explained the government’s plan to introduce a new crown epidemic PPRP, stating that it was inconsistent with the basic framework of the Strategic Preparation and Response Plan issued by WHO, which aims to strengthen Pakistan’s internal coordination, support epidemic monitoring and diagnosis, case management and infection prevention and control, increase grassroots participation in the community, and reduce morbidity and mortality. It is being hoped that the international community will pay attention to the situation of the epidemic and provide financial support and technical assistance for the prevention and control of virus in Pakistan. 

The WHO Director-General, Tan Desai, said that the challenge of the new crown epidemic was unprecedented and required united response of the international community. 

The WHO appreciated the efforts made by the Pakistani government and supported the Pakistani side in introducing relevant plans. This reflected the determination of the Pakistani government, the United Nations and various development partners to work together to respond to the epidemic, and it met the requirements of the United Nations sustainable development goals. 

The WHO pledged to continue providing strong support and assistance to the prevention and control of the Pakistani epidemic and reduce the impact of the epidemic on the population, especially the most vulnerable groups. 

Ambassador Yao said that the new coronary pneumonia epidemic posed a huge threat to human health and a huge challenge to global public health security. “As a responsible country in the international community, China actively supported international cooperation in epidemic prevention,” he stated. 

It was recalled that at the G-20 special leaders’ summit held recently, the Chinese President Xi Jinping had emphasized that what the international community needed the most was firm confidence, concerted efforts, and united response, comprehensively strengthened international cooperation, united and strong force to overcome the epidemic to win the fight against major infectious diseases.

It was pointed out that China remained willing to continue to work in an open, transparent and highly responsible manner, strengthen cooperation with the WHO and the international community, and contribute to maintaining global public health security. 

Ambassador Yao reiterated that China fully supported Pakistan’s fight against epidemics. President Xi held a phone conversation with Prime Minister Imran Khan while President Dr Arif Alvi visited China last month, and State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi held a couple of telephonic conversations with Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, emphasizing the stand of mutual support between China and Pakistan. 

The Chinese government and all sectors of the society have extended their helping hands, and have provided Pakistan with a large number of anti-epidemic materials such as test kits, masks, ventilators, protective equipment, medicines, and helped Pakistan establish temporary isolation hospitals. 

The Chinese experts also held a video conference with Pakistan, and China sent a medical expert group to share Chinese experience with Pakistan on epidemic prevention and control, monitoring and testing, and clinical treatment. 

China has, on a regular basis, praised the efforts of the Pakistani government to fight the epidemic and expressed its willingness to continue to provide Pakistan with assistance within its ability to jointly cope with the challenges of the epidemic. 

The representatives of other international organizations and diplomatic envoys of various countries in Pakistan stated that the new coronary pneumonia epidemic was a challenge faced by all mankind and they were willing to continue to provide support to Pakistan in fighting the epidemic through bilateral and multilateral channels.