On 23 April, Ambassador Liu Xiaoming attended an Asia House webinar and delivered a keynote speech entitled Confidence and solidarity will see us through to final victory. This was followed by a discussion with Lord Green, Chairman of Asia House and Q&A with online participants. The event was chaired by Michael Lawrence, Chief Executive of Asia House, and attracted an audience of nearly 250, including Sir Douglas Flint, UK's Special Envoy to the BRI, Lord Powell, Lord Sassoon, Honorary Chairman of China-Britain Business Council, Caroline Wilson, Ambassador-designate to China, officials from the UK's Cabinet Office, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, HM Treasury, Department for International Development, and Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, ambassadors and diplomats from more than 20 countries, and representatives of the business, media and academic communities from the UK, the US, Europe and Asia. The conference was broadcast live on Ambassador Liu's Twitter, and covered live and reported by the BBC and Sky News. The full text of the speech is as follows:

Lord Green,

Mr. Lawrence,

My Lords,

Your Excellencies and members of the diplomatic corps,

Members of Asia House,

Ladies and Gentlemen:

Good morning!

Thank you, Lord Green, for your kind invitation and warm introduction. As Lord Green said, being Chinese Ambassador to the UK for more than 10 years, I am no stranger to Asia House, but this is the first time I have joined you on-line.

As the world enters the third decade of the 21st century, the outbreak of Covid-19 is posing unparalleled challenges to mankind, striking an unprecedented blow to the world economy and having a profound impact on the international landscape. In this battle, every country in the world is facing a severe test.

How is China doing in this test? Today I would like to share with you my views by answering the following three questions:

• First, what does China's experience mean to the global response to Covid-19?
• Second, will China continue to be an engine for world economic growth in the context of the pandemic?
• Third, why does China believe international solidarity is the most effective weapon against the virus?

Currently Covid-19 continues ravaging the world and the global response to this challenge is at a critical moment. China was the first country to report the virus, and also the first to have achieved preliminary but important success in containing the virus. I think, China's efforts bear three-fold significance to the global response to this public health crisis.

First, China has built a strong "line of defence" for global public health.

In the early days of the outbreak, China acted responsibly and quickly by adopting the most comprehensive, strict and thorough measures of prevention and control in the interest of the Chinese people and the rest of the world. Across the nation, 1.4 billion people rallied behind the government and waged a "people's war" against the virus.

After strenuous efforts and enormous sacrifice, China became one of the first countries in the world to have gotten the epidemic under control. For one whole month, there have been only sporadic cases and the spread of the virus within China has been basically cut off.

With persistent efforts, wisdom and sacrifice, China has built the first line of defence for the world, offering protection for life and health.

Second, China has accumulated valuable experience for the global response to the pandemic.

In fighting its battle against the virus, China has always focused its efforts on the welfare of the people and relied fully on the support of the people. This has become the most salient Chinese experience in this battle.

In record-short time, China established an all-dimensional and multi-layered network of prevention and control involving everyone from the Central Government to the local communities. The whole nation was mobilized to support Wuhan, the epicenter of the outbreak.

The measures that China has taken are based on science. The principles of early diagnosis, early report, early quarantine and early treatment have been followed. Covid-19 patients were admitted into designated hospitals with best experts and sufficient resources for timely and tailored treatment. And both traditional Chinese medicine and Western medicine have been used to treat the patients.

China attaches great importance to balancing counter-epidemic measures and ensuring economic and social progress. We have kept in mind both domestic and global impacts when taking actions. And we have been working to bring economic activities back to normal gradually.

Leaders of many countries have spoken highly of China's efforts, and recognized that China's experience offers useful lessons to the world.

Third, China has provided assistance to other countries in the spirit of solidarity.

China has engaged actively in international cooperation in an open, transparent and responsible manner to deal with the crisis.

China notified the world about the outbreak without delay, and acted quickly to identify and share the genetic sequence of the virus. At the same time, China has been sharing its experience of prevention, control and treatment with other countries without reservation, and set up an on-line knowledge centre, which is open to all countries.

China has donated $20 million to the WHO. Today, China announced a further donation of $30 million, which will be used on containing Covid-19 and bolstering the public health system in developing countries.

China has also sent 17 teams of medical experts to 15 countries. It has provided or is in the process of providing much-needed medical supplies, including masks, protective gowns, testing kits and ventilators, to more than 150 countries and international organisations, including the UK.

Despite the difficulties at home, China has been increasing supply of pharmaceutical ingredients and medical and protective equipment and materials to the international market. From March 1st to April 10th, China exported about 7.12 billion masks, 55.57 million protective gowns, 3.59 million infrared thermometers, 20,100 ventilators and 13.69 million goggles.

The assistance from China has injected positive energy into the global response to Covid-19 and shored up international confidence in winning this battle against the virus.

Now I would like to move on to the second part of my speech and talk about China's economy in the context of the outbreak, which I know you have all been following closely.

A few days ago, the IMF downgraded this year's growth expectations by a big margin, warning that the impact of Covid-19 on the world economy might surpass that of the Great Depression.

The outbreak has also taken its toll on China's economy and social undertaking. In the first quarter, China's GDP contracted by 6.8% year-on-year.

In face of the unprecedented risks, challenges and uncertainties, it is all the more important that we shore up confidence, keep up our courage, and work hard to turn challenges into opportunities and ensure continued growth. I think we could draw confidence from the following three facts:

First, China's economy will maintain steady growth in the long run. This momentum has not changed and will not change.

China has a solid economic foundation:

• As the world's second largest economy, China's GDP reached $14.4 trillion in 2019, 3.1 times compared with that of 2008 during the international financial crisis, which was $4.6 trillion, and 8.6 times compared with that of 2003 amid the SARS outbreak, which was $1.67 trillion.
• China is the only country in the world that has all the industries under the United Nations classifications.
• With a population of 1.4 billion, including 900 million workforce and more than 400 million middle-income earners, China enjoys broad prospects for economic growth.
• China's economy has enormous potential for further growth. The per capita GDP has just crossed the $10,000 line, which is only one fourth that of the UK and one sixth that of the US. The urbanization rate only stands at 60%.

As I said earlier, China attaches great importance to balancing counter-epidemic measures and economic and social progress. Within the country, life is gradually returning to normal, and economic activities are approaching or have already returned to the normal track.

As of today, 99% of major industrial companies have resumed operation. March manufacturing PMI increased by 16.3 percentage points over February. According to the latest IMF World Economic Outlook, China's economy will rebound in 2021, growing at 9.2%.

Second, China's economy will pursue high-quality development. This goal has not changed and will not change.

While Covid-19 will remain on the government agenda for some time to come, China has lost no time in turning our attention to the economy.

• We will continue to follow the new development concept,
• press ahead with supply-side structural reform,
• improve market-based allocation of production factors,
• and pursue high-quality growth through further reforms and opening up wider to the world.

We have stepped up macro-policy regulation to counter-act the economic impact of Covid-19. Measures have been taken to keep employment, the financial market, foreign trade, investment, FDI and expectations stable. On this basis, we have taken further steps to protect basic livelihood, market entities, food and energy security, stable industrial and supply chains, and normal operation of the grass root communities. All these efforts are aimed at ensuring overall economic growth and social stability.

We have also taken measures to expand domestic demand and increase effective investment. The battle against this pandemic has created new opportunities for development, such as "stay-at-home economy" and "cloud office". China is seizing these opportunities. We will leverage the internet, big data, artificial intelligence and other new technologies to accelerate the development of emerging industries, such as digital economy, smart manufacturing, and medical and health care. Efforts are also being made to transform and upgrade traditional industries, expand investment in strategic and emerging industries, and develop the green economy.

These efforts will ensure that China's economy remains on the track of high-quality growth.

Third, China will continue to be the powerhouse and stabilizer for the world economy. Our commitment has not changed and will not change.

China has been committed to opening its market wider to the world. Measures have been taken to

• increase market access,
• improve business environment,
• expand import,
• increase outbound investment,
• facilitate unimpeded flow of goods around the world,
• and promote high-quality cooperation on the Belt and Road Initiative.

The 127th China Import and Export Fair will take place online in mid-to-late June. This will be the first time that this longest-running trade event in China will be held online. In November, China will hold the third China International Import Expo. Both events will create huge opportunities for the mutually-beneficial trade and cooperation between countries of the world.

China is also calling on the international community to step up macro-policy coordination in order to stabilize the market, secure growth, protect wellbeing, and ensure the global supply chain is open, stable and safe.

On top of that, China is the "factory of the world". Steady economic growth in China is a strong support for global recovery.

Now I would like to move to the third part of my speech and talk about how the international community should work together to win the battle against Covid-19.

The question being asked or debated around the world today is this: Has the pandemic united or divided the world?

My answer to this question is this: The on-going battle is living proof that countries of the world belong to one and the same community with a shared future. In the battle against the pandemic, cooperation is the most effective weapon if the international community wants to claim final victory over the virus.

First, we need global, unified action to win the battle against Covid-19.

At the Extraordinary G20 Leaders' Summit last month, President Xi Jinping put forth four important proposals:

• First, we need to fight a global war.
• Second, we need to take international collective action.
• Third, we need to support international organisations in playing their active roles.
• Fourth, we need to enhance macro-economic policy coordination.

He also made a number of specific proposals regarding intergovernmental cooperation, including joint R&D of drugs and vaccines, a G20 Covid-19 assistance initiative and joint efforts to stabilize global industrial and supply chains. These could be the areas where countries of the world could work together to meet the challenges of the global public health crisis.

China will continue to enhance cooperation with other countries, shoulder its due responsibilities and contribute to the final victory of this battle.

Second, we should enhance solidarity and shore up confidence.

Virus does not respect borders or discriminate between races. In face of the crisis, blaming and scapegoating are futile; arrogance and insolence will only poison the cooperation between countries.

It is against human conscience to deliberately put the virus label on a specific region, politicize public health issue and stigmatize a specific country. Such moves will only drive a wedge between countries, undermine international cooperation and harm the interests of all mankind.

It is important that countries of the world reject ideological bias, put lives above everything else and form maximum synergy to bring the pandemic under control.

Third, we should uphold multilateralism and support international organisations in playing an active role.

China has been committed to multilateralism. We have been working to strengthen and improve the global governance system with the UN at its core.

Since the outbreak of Covid-19, the WHO has taken an objective, scientific and just position, and played an important role in coordinating and promoting international cooperation. This has won extensive recognition from the international community.

Going forward, China will continue, as always, to support the WHO, including supporting its leadership in the current battle against Covid-19.

China will also work actively to strengthen cooperation on public health with countries along the Belt and Road routes and to join hands with them to build a "Silk Road of Public Health".

Fourth, we should promote inclusive cooperation in order to build an open world economy.

There may be difficulties and headwinds, but they are no reason for us to stop cooperating in an open spirit or seek development through cooperation. Advocates of "decoupling" and "technology blockade" would only find themselves in self-imposed isolation, restriction and retrogression.

China will remain committed to reform and opening up, and enhance coordination of macro-economic policy with other countries. We will begin to focus on what we should do after the pandemic. This includes taking all necessary measures to ensure the stability of global industrial and supply chains, promote trade and investment liberalization and facilitation, and build an open world economy.

Ladies and Gentlemen:

China and the UK are important partners in this battle against the virus. In a matter of one month, President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Boris Johnson had two telephone conversations. This demonstrates the firm determination of our two countries to work together to meet the challenge of this public health crisis.

At the moment, our two countries are sharing information and experience and conducting joint scientific research. We are both advocates of multilateralism. We are both supporters of the important role of the WHO in a united global response. We are both proponents of international cooperation under the framework of the G20. And we are both promoters of better global governance on public health.

At this crucial moment, it is important that China and the UK take up our responsibilities, stand with each other, and resist noises and disruptions. We should add positive energy into our joint response to the pandemic and make new contribution to global public health.

I am confident that China and the UK will emerge from this test with more mature and robust relationship, broader and deeper cooperation, and stronger and enduring friendship between our peoples.

As a Chinese saying goes, "Victory is ensured when people pool their strength; success is secured when people put their heads together."

China stands ready to join hands with the international community, including the UK, shore up confidence and address the current difficulties.

Together we will win this battle against the virus. Together we will create a better and brighter future for the world!

Thank you.