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Zhang Jun: China supports UN and WHO in fighting COVID-19 Pandemic

2020-04-09 06:10

On 9 April, the Security Council held a video conference on the COVID-19 pandemic and briefed by Secretary-General António Guterres. Ambassador Zhang Jun, Permanent Representative of China to the United Nations, delivered remarks at the meeting.

Ambassador Zhang said that the COVID-19 pandemic is a common challenge that has put national governments, the United Nations and the international community to the test. China commends the UN and World Health Organization for their leading and coordinating role and appreciates the Secretary-General's Appeal for Global Ceasefire and the Global Humanitarian Response Plan and issuing the Report on Socio-Economic Impacts of COVID-19, all in an effort to promote international solidarity and cooperation to fight the pandemic.

Ambassador Zhang said that China supports the UN's efforts in fighting the outbreak. During its Presidency of the Security Council in March, China followed closely the impact of the pandemic on the maintenance of international peace and security and played a constructive role. The Council held VTC meetings on the situations in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Libya, Syria, Afghanistan and the Middle East, including the Palestinian question. During these meetings, the impact of COVID-19 was discussed. The Council issued press elements after the meetings, highlighting its close attention to the pandemic. China also supported and co-sponsored the draft resolution of the UN General Assembly on COVID-19 and joined the statement by the Group of 77 and China, calling for more attention and input to developing countries. China hopes that the international community will actively respond to the call of the UN in a concerted effort to combat the outbreak.

Ambassador Zhang said that China supports Secretary-General Guterres' Appeal for Global Ceasefire and hopes that conflict parties will actively support and implement this initiative. The Council should encourage the conflict parties to cease hostilities, recognize the primacy of life and health, set aside differences and lay down their arms to buy time for the prevention and control efforts, open up space for cooperation, and create conditions for political solutions. The Council should support the Global Humanitarian Response Plan launched by the Secretary-General, and call on the countries to increase resource input to the Plan and give support to countries in conflict and the LDCs. The Council should encourage relevant countries to lift unilateral sanctions in response to the Secretary-General's appeal so as to reduce negative impact on the humanitarian situation. The Council should strengthen the safety and security of peacekeepers, promote the implementation of its Resolution 2518, enhance medical support for peacekeepers and help with the response in host countries as much as possible.

Ambassador Zhang said that under the leadership of President Xi Jinping, China has achieved important results at the current stage. China will spare no effort in tackling the risk of rebound and the challenge of imported cases, and do its utmost to support other countries in fighting the outbreak. The COVID-19 pandemic shows once again that the destiny of mankind is bound together. What China has experience proves that defeating the outbreak is possible. Facing this global challenge, solidarity, cooperation, mutual support and assistance is the way out, while beggar-thy-neighbor or scapegoating leads to nowhere. Any acts of stigmatization and politicization must be rejected.

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