Overcoming the COVID-19 epidemic – Part – I
The COVID-19 epidemic poses both a great threat to the life and health of the Chinese people and a formidable challenge to global public health security. Faced with this major test, Chinese people of all ethnic groups united under the strong leadership of the CCP Central Committee with comrade Xi Jinping at its heart. Together, we launched a massive response nationwide. The heroic acts of the Chinese people in the fight against the epidemic have won the admiration and support of the international community.
In this critical and ongoing struggle, we, the diplomatic service, seriously apply the important instructions of Secretary General Xi Jinping and the decisions and directives of the Central Party Committee, both in letter and in spirit. We have clearly kept in mind the need to maintain political integrity, to think in general terms, to follow the core of leadership and to stay aligned. In addition to developing greater confidence in the path, theory, system and culture of socialism with Chinese characteristics; and firmly defend the central position of Secretary General Xi Jinping within the Central Committee of the Party and the party as a whole, and firmly defend the authority of the Central Party Committee and its centralized and unified leadership. We are engaged in a total war against the epidemic. We are working hard to create an environment conducive to epidemic control and economic and social development in the country, and to make China a strong line of defense in the global response to the epidemic.
Since the start of the COVID-19 epidemic, all of us in the diplomatic service have taken control of the epidemics as our main political mission. Guided by the overarching goal of containing and defeating the epidemic, we have advanced relevant foreign affairs with a strong sense of mission and responsibility. We do our best to contribute to the national epidemic control efforts under the leadership of the Party Central Committee, and to fulfill our duty to the country and protect the well-being of our people.
We are pursuing active diplomacy to gain solid international support. Secretary General Xi Jinping personally chaired the response to the epidemic in China and projected calm and confidence. During phone calls with more than ten foreign leaders, including those from France, Germany, Saudi Arabia, the United States, Indonesia, Qatar, Malaysia, United Kingdom (United Kingdom), the Republic of Korea (ROK), Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates (United Arab Emirates), Ethiopia, Chile and Cuba, President Xi stressed that the whole nation is mobilized for a rapid response and that the most comprehensive, rigorous and comprehensive measures have been adopted. He stressed that China has all the confidence, ability and determination to triumph over the epidemic and minimize its impact, and will strive to achieve this year's economic and social development goals . His determined and confident statements sent a reassuring message to the world that China will win the battle against the COVID-19 epidemic.
To date, leaders from more than 170 countries and heads of more than 40 international and regional organizations have sent sympathy messages or issued statements of support for China. They also praised China for its effective and extraordinary response. The United Nations, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, the BRICS, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, the African Union, the Arab League, the Community of States from Latin America and the Caribbean and the G77 have issued statements to specifically express confidence and support for China.
We have hosted visits from Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen and Mongolian President Khaltmaagiin Battulga at this special time. We had a special meeting of ASEAN and Chinese foreign ministers on COVID-19 in Lao PDR. We work closely with the World Health Organization (WHO). I have spoken to more than 20 foreign ministers, including those from Japan, the Republic of Korea, Russia, France, the United Kingdom, Germany, Germany ; Iran and Malaysia. These diplomatic communications have forged a solid international consensus for the world to come together to deal with this outbreak.
We are pursuing global international cooperation to meet the needs of fighting epidemics. China's diplomatic and consular missions worked hard to secure much-needed medical supplies at home, provided information and facilitated overseas purchases, and accelerated delivery of supplies. donations from foreign governments, overseas Chinese and international friends. To date, in-kind assistance from 50 countries and international organizations has been received. A large number of rare medical supplies have gone to Wuhan and other places where they are most needed. In coordination with the relevant authorities, we also facilitate the active exchange of information and scientific and research cooperation with other countries. These efforts will pool international expertise in diagnostics, therapeutics and vaccine development.
We follow a people-centered approach to protect the legitimate rights and interests of our people. In the face of this sudden outbreak, we are determined to protect the safety and interests of our fellow citizens abroad. In response to excessive reactions from some countries, we have declared our position as soon as possible in accordance with WHO recommendations. We are also in daily communication and consultation with various countries to avoid unnecessary obstacles to personnel and economic exchanges.
In the interest of the population, we have put in place consular protection mechanisms to deal with the epidemic. All our diplomatic and consular missions were responsible for locating and contacting our compatriots from Hubei stranded abroad. More than 10 charter flights have been sent to take over more than 1,300 Hubei residents from Thailand, Malaysia, Japan, Vietnam, Singapore and Indonesia. Under the general direction of central management, we assisted the government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region in bringing residents of Hong Kong and Macao from the Diamond Princess cruise ship docked in Japan.
Our diplomatic and consular missions work 24 hours a day during this difficult time: they have helped more than 18,100 Chinese citizens who could not return home due to flight cancellations, received or spent more 10,000 calls to provide consular assistance and helped resolve nearly 2,700 consular cases. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) sent a task force to Wuhan to coordinate foreign affairs issues in the response to the epidemics. Immovable by the virus, they set the example for the entire diplomatic service of "heroes in danger".
We are reaching out to the world to communicate China's extraordinary response. By participating in the Munich Security Conference, hosting daily MFA briefings and posting our articles on social media, we let the world know about our efforts to fight the epidemic. We have presented facts to show the bright future of China’s development, strengthening international confidence and confidence in China’s response.
At the same time, we acted quickly to combat discriminatory actions against Chinese nationals and to refute the rumors and misinformation that create panic, which has helped foster a favorable international climate. We have also organized detailed briefings for foreign diplomatic missions in China, demonstrating that the Chinese government adopts a responsible attitude and takes care of the life and health of foreigners in China.
China's diplomatic envoys and missions around the world have engaged in intensive public diplomacy. They have given more than 400 interviews to mainstream television and radio stations, published more than 300 editorials and articles, delivered more than 500 briefings and speeches, and posted more than 20,000 messages on popular social media platforms across the country and the stranger. Their efforts have helped the world better appreciate the heroic struggle of the Chinese people and instill more confidence in the positive trajectory of the Chinese economy.
To be continued
The author is the State Councilor and Minister of Foreign Affairs of China. The article was first published in the Chinese magazine Qiushi on March 2, 2020.
