On 16 April, Ambassador Zhang Jun, Permanent Representative of China to the United Nations, sent a letter to President of the 74th Session of the UN General Assembly Tijjani Muhammad-Bande, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and Permanent Representatives of Member States to the United Nations, reaffirming China's consistent and strong support for the UN and the WHO in playing a leading role and actively coordinating international anti-epidemic cooperation.

Ambassador Zhang stated that President Xi Jinping had intensive telephone conversations recently with Secretary-General Guterres and leaders of other countries. They exchanged views and reached important consensus on strengthening international cooperation in combating the pandemic. President Xi emphasized that the world is a community with a shared future. In fighting a disease that threatens the people of all countries, solidarity and cooperation is the most powerful weapon. It is imperative for the international community to strengthen confidence, act with unity, and work in a collective response to win this battle against a highly dangerous virus.

Ambassador Zhang said that China firmly supports the WHO in playing a leading role in the global anti-epidemic cooperation. As a UN specialized agency responsible for public health matters, the WHO plays a crucial role in epidemic response. Under the leadership of Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the WHO upholds a science-based, objective and unbiased stance and provides active guidance and assistance to countries around the world, making important contributions to international cooperation against epidemics. China enjoys close communication and cooperation with the WHO, and updates the WHO in an open, transparent and responsible manner. After the outbreak of COVID-19, China immediately reported to the WHO, shared with it and the international community the genetic sequence and China's prevention and treatment experience without reservation. China donated 20 million US dollars to the WHO in support of the global anti-epidemic cooperation. At the G20 Extraordinary Virtual Leaders' Summit on COVID-19, President Xi Jinping called for support to the WHO. A joint statement was issued by the Group of 77 and China, commending the WHO's efforts in responding to the epidemic. China echoed the communique adopted by the Non-Aligned Movement, which supports the WHO and Director-General Tedros in performing their duties and opposes the politicization of COVID-19. China firmly opposes any attempt to weaken the WHO, whose role is indispensable at this crucial stage.

Ambassador Zhang stressed that virus knows no borders or races. No country can wall itself off from its impact. The only way to defeat the virus is to work together. Blame-shifting will not help focus on pandemic response, but only divides the international community and jeopardizes international anti-epidemic cooperation. We firmly oppose such wrong acts as labeling, politicizing and stigmatizing, a position shared by the international community. COVID-19 will not be the last emergency in an era of economic globalization, and mankind will continue to be tested by various traditional and non-traditional security challenges. This global public health emergency has driven home the urgency and imperative of building a community with a shared future for humanity. Through solidarity and mutual assistance, we will prevail over this outbreak and embrace a brighter future for all.

Ambassador Zhang also shared in detail China's strong support for the response by the Security Council and the General Assembly facing the outbreak, its active response to the Secretary-General's initiatives, its effort to ease the impact of COVID-19 to the world economy and the priority it gives to the development area in fighting the disease.