Mr. President,

China welcomes your initiative in convening this informal meeting on the Ebola outbreak. I would like to thank Mr. Secretary-General, Dr. Nabarro for their remarks, and Mr. Ahmed for his detailed presentation and congratulate you on your appointment as the SRSG on Ebola and Head of UNMEER. China will fully support your work.

China highly appreciates the efforts made by the SG, Mr. Ban Ki-moon and the Director-General of WHO, Dr. Margaret Chan, in mobilizing various parties in fight against Ebola. We are pleased to see that under the leadership and coordination of the UN and with concerted efforts of the international community, the spread of Ebola is, by and large, showing signs of easing. The fight against the epidemic has made some progress at this stage. However, the situation remains grim and we must not let down our guard. In the light of the current situation, the international community must focus on efforts in the following areas:

Firstly, concerted efforts to respond to the Ebola outbreak should be strengthened. The UN must continue to play a leading role in coordinating international relief responses to maximize the effect of resources for the fight against the epidemic. The WHO must continue to fully utilize its expertise and closely monitor the situation and improve its data collection and analysis. All countries must expeditiously honor their commitments and intensify their cooperation with Ebola-stricken countries, so that assistance can be delivered as soon as possible.

Secondly, priorities in assistance should be adjusted in the light of new developments in the epidemic. Under the new circumstances, the focus of the fight against the virus is gradually shifting from the national level to district level. Importance must be given to the spread of the virus in remote areas and to enhancing the mobility and flexibility of efforts in prevention and control. International assistance must also undergo corresponding adjustments, such as dispatching more medical workers to districts and communities, and providing more motorcycles, ambulances, and treatment and monitoring facilities.

Thirdly, efforts to help African countries improve their capacity building in the health system and economic and social development should be intensified. In helping Africa countries fight the Ebola outbreak, we should, as the proverb says, “give a man a fish” and, more importantly, “teach the man to fish.” The outbreak has exposed problems in global public health security. The international community must help Africa strengthen its public health security system and enhance its ability in pandemic prevention, control, and response. It is necessary to increase comprehensive support to the economic and social recovery of Africa and encourage domestic enterprises to resume their operations in the affected areas.

Mr. President,

The Chinese President Xi Jinping and other Chinese leaders attach great importance to the Ebola outbreak since the very beginning of the epidemic. The Chinese government responded swiftly and in April, August, September and October, 2014, provided to the affected countries four batches of emergency assistance totaling 7.5 hundred million RMB, and the total number of the experts and medical staff sent by China to the affected countries has exceeded 700. Assistance provided by China is playing a key role. Chinese medical workers have treated and put under observation more than 600 suspected Ebola carriers in Sierra Leon and Liberia. Recently, the entire amount of the 6 million US dollars donation by China to the UN Multilateral Trust Fund for Ebola has been disbursed. Last week, China delivered by air to the three affected countries 220,000 sets of personal protective equipment, and a lot of hospital beds, and infrared thermometers. Yesterday, we began to transport more health care kits, ambulances, pickup trucks, motorcycles and other supplies to affected countries. China will launch a China-Africa long-term plan on public health cooperation, which includes 12 training courses on public health and pandemic prevention and control this year.

This aid operation is the longest in duration, widest in scale, and the strongest in intensity of all aid operations undertaken by China so far in response to public health crises in other countries and regions. It testifies to the sincere friendship between China and Africa as well as China’s commitment to stand with Africa in times of crisis. I would like to reiterate here, China’s assistance will not stop as long as the Ebola epidemic continues to exist in Africa. China stands ready to join the international community in helping West African countries overcome the outbreak and win final victory in the fight against Ebola.

Thank you, Mr. President.