Mr. President,

China welcomes your initiative to convene this informal meeting on Ebola epidemic. China highly appreciates the contribution made by the Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and United Nations in leading and coordinating the international response to the Ebola epidemic.

The Ebola response is like rowing in an upward stream: not advancing means retreating. Therefore, at this critical juncture, the international community must not let up its response. On the contrary, it should double its efforts and give priority attention to the following areas on account of the current situation:

First, it should scale up assistance to affected countries in West Africa and make sure that commitments made are honored swiftly. Partners are called upon to provide not only “hard assistance” such as food, epidemic prevention material and means of transportation, but more importantly “soft assistance” like experts, health care workers and Ebola prevention and treatment technics. It is also necessary to make additional contribution to the United Nations Ebola Multi-Partner Trust Fund. At the same time, efforts should be made on researching and developing Ebola vaccines and drugs. What we have done is more important than what we have said. Therefore, it is important that commitments already made be implemented in a speedy manner so that all the assistance can reach people in the affected areas as soon as possible.

Second, it should step up efforts to establish Ebola data collection and analysis system in the affected areas and make continuous improvement of this system. The collected information should be shared among all member states in a timely fashion. Comprehensive and accurate data not only provides an important scientific basis for the international community to assess the epidemic and formulate policy, but also lays a solid foundation for future in-depth research into the patterns of spread, prevention and treatment of acute infectious diseases such as Ebola. It is our hope that this activity will receive adequate financial, technical, and human support so that UNMEER and WHO can succeed in this endeavor.

Third, it should help affected areas and African countries in general strengthen their public health system and capacity-building. Now that the epidemic is being gradually brought under control, it is necessary to take a long-term approach by helping affected countries in West Africa rebuild their health system and restore social stability and economic development. Give a man a fish and you feed him for today; teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime. Countries of the world must develop a sense of common destiny, demonstrate political will, increase input to African Continent, help African countries enhance their public health capacity-building so as to address both the symptoms and root causes of the crisis.

Mr. President,

China feels the pain of the people of West Africa who are going through a trying time and have made the best effort within our ability. We have taken to heart the urgent needs of the affected countries and provided large amount of emergency assistance. In the immediate aftermath of the outbreak, the Chinese government was among the first to offer help, providing both material and cash assistance to affected countries. In light of the evolution of the epidemic, China has timely adjusted the focus of its assistance and has thus far completed three rounds of assistance and is in the midst of implementing the fourth one. China has so far provided cumulative assistance totaling 750 million Renminbi Yuan, including 6 million US dollars to the United Nations Ebola Response Multi-Partner Trust Fund, making it number one in terms of batches of material provided and teams of medical staff dispatched. At present, more than 200 Chinese experts and medical staff are working on the frontline of battling Ebola in the affected countries. Added to this the number of experts and medical staff to be sent in the upcoming fourth round of assistance, the total number of tour of duties completed by Chinese experts and medical staff will exceed 700, making China the leading country in terms of providing experts and medical staff. According to the arrangement of the fourth round of assistance, China will build a 100 bed treatment center for Liberia and will send 480 medical staff to run and manage this center. China hence becomes the first country to be solely responsible for building, running and managing an Ebola treatment center. It should be pointed out in particular that on November 14th, the first team of medical staff totaling 160 who will be tasked with running the center will leave China for Monrovia, merely three weeks after President Xi Jinping announced the fourth round of assistance.

Mr. President,

China will continue to work with the United Nations and other countries in supporting the government and people of West African countries in confronting the Ebola crisis. We are confident that with the concerted efforts of the international community, they will succeed in overcoming Ebola epidemic and achieve social stability and economic recovery sooner.

Thank you, Mr. President.