As the World Health Assembly convened virtually on Monday to discuss responses to the COVID-19 pandemic, Chinese President Xi Jinping announced that China would pledge $2 billion over two years to fight the pandemic worldwide, particularly in developing countries.
In a speech given to the Assembly, made available by Xinhua, Jinping said that the virus does not respect borders and urged that the World Health Organisation (WHO) lead the global response against the virus.
Jinping’s comments come as the WHO grows increasingly beleaguered by its members, over 100 of whom (including India) seek an independent probe into the origins of the virus and the WHO-coordinated global response to it—even as it is alleged that China sought to withhold crucial information during the start of the outbreak.
Jinping said that China provided information to WHO and relevant countries “in a most timely fashion”, adding that the genome sequence of the virus had been released at the earliest possible time.
Urging the need for international cooperation against the virus, Jinping said that China would provide $2 billion over two years “to help with COVID-19 response and with economic and social development in affected countries, especially developing countries.”
He added that China would work with the UN to set up a global humanitarian response depot and hub in China to ensure the operation of anti-epidemic supply chains and foster “green corridors” for fast-track transportation and customs clearance.
“China will establish a cooperation mechanism for its hospitals to pair up with 30 African hospitals and accelerate the building of the Africa CDC headquarters to help the continent ramp up its disease preparedness and control capacity,” he said.
In addition, he said that “COVID-19 vaccine development and deployment in China, when available, will be made a global public good. This will be China’s contribution to ensuring vaccine accessibility and affordability in developing countries.”
The pandemic has led to over 3.9 billion of the world’s population being under some form of lockdown to stop the spread of the virus, with the total economic impact estimated at around $8.8 trillion of losses, according to the Asian Development Bank. Over 4.6 million people have contracted the virus and over 300,000 had died of it, so far.
The 73th World Health Assembly—the decision-making organ of the WHO—will be expected to debate the resolution calling for a review of the origins and spread of the virus provided at least two-thirds of its members support it.
Jinping said that China welcomed a move to review the global response to the virus but after it can been brought under control.
"China supports the idea of a comprehensive review of the global response to COVID-19 after it is brought under control to sum up experience and address deficiencies. This work should be based on science and professionalism, led by WHO and conducted in an objective and impartial manner," Jinping said.
China has been accused of politicising the WHO through its repeated efforts to prevent Taiwan from becoming a member of the grouping. Controversy over the role of WHO during the COVID-19 pandemic has led to calls for and expectations of reform. US President Donald Trump had announced in April that funding for the WHO would be stopped, accusing the grouping of failing to perform its duty.
The 73rd WHA, held between Monday and Tuesday this week, will prove crucial towards the future of the grouping.
"The fragility exposed by the #coronavirus is not limited to our health systems. It affects all areas of our world and our institutions," said United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres.
