Baroness Stroud,

Minister Mutsvangwa,

Sir Oliver,

Vice Chairman Sha,

Dr. Wu,

Dr. Zhang,

Your Excellencies,

Ladies and Gentlemen:

Welcome to the webinar on fighting Covid-19 in Africa jointly hosted by the Chinese Embassy in the UK and the Legatum Institute. Thanks to modern technology, people from China, the UK and Africa are able to meet on line at this difficult time to share experience and exchange views on fighting the pandemic.

I would like to express my thanks to the Legatum Institute for your thoughtful preparation for this event. We are glad to have with us Dr. Wu Zunyou and Dr. Zhang Wenhong from China, who will share experience and exchange views on fighting Covid-19.

As the pandemic continues ravaging the world, the situation in Africa remains grave. We really feel for our African friends.

Having served twice in Africa, I feel a special bond to this great continent. I had the honour to attend the handover ceremony of Tazara and to witness the dedication of this historic monument of China-Africa friendship.

China and Africa are good friends, good partners and good brothers. We have supported and helped each other over the years.

At the height of the challenge from Covid-19 in China, our African brothers assisted us to the best of their capabilities and voiced their firm support for China.

Now, China has achieved major and strategic success in containing the virus. We are reciprocating African countries’ support and providing assistance to the best of our capability.

• China has donated medical supplies to the African Union and to all the African countries that have diplomatic relations with China.
• Chinese medical teams are taking an active part in the battle against Covid-19 in African countries.
• Experts of the two sides have had frequent exchanges of views on line.

As President Xi Jinping said, mankind belongs to a community with a shared future; in this community, solidarity and cooperation are the most powerful weapons to defeat Covid-19.

Going forward, China will continue to provide support to African countries, promote the development of Africa CDC, and enhance cooperation between China and Africa on public health and disease control. Together China and Africa can build a community with a shared future.

Both China and the UK are important partners of Africa. Helping Africa in this fight against Covid-19 serves the common interests of all three parties. I suggest that China, the UK and Africa focus on cooperation in the following three aspects:

First, we should focus on containing the spread of the virus.

This requires us to share experience. China has regarded people’s life as the top priority, based its measures on science, and mobilized all sectors of the society at all levels to join in the prevention and control efforts. These are all valuable experience that China is willing to share with our African friends.

It is also important that we enhance exchanges and cooperation on the monitoring of the epidemic, testing methods, clinical treatment, and R&D of vaccine and medicines. This could help us contain the spread of the virus at an early date and erect a strong wall protecting us from the epidemic.

Second, we should tap the potential of cooperation to help Africa enhance its capability of responding to public health issues.

We could enhance cooperation by matching China’s experience and the UK’s research capability with Africa’s needs. China and the UK could help African countries train specialized personnel and enhance capacity building in public health and disease prevention and control, so as to strengthen their capabilities of addressing public health issues and warding off risks.

Third, we should improve global governance on public health and safeguard fairness and justice in the world.

We should build up consensus and support the WHO in playing an important role in the global response to the pandemic. We should respect African wishes, listen to African voices and support African initiatives in international public health affairs. This is the moment for all of us to join hands to build a community of public health for mankind.

Now, we have come to a critical juncture in this battle against Covid-19. It is absolutely important that the international community

• work together, rather than blame each other,
• save lives, rather than engage in a smear and scapegoating campaign,
• and uphold fairness and justice in the world, rather than politicize the public health issue and stigmatize other countries.

Nelson Mandela said, “When people are determined, they can overcome anything.”

There is a similar saying in China, which goes, “When people are united, they can move mountains.”

I am confident that we will claim final victory over the virus and we will emerge with deeper China-Africa friendship and closer China-UK cooperation.

Let’s join hands to write a historic chapter of mankind coming together against Covid-19 and building a community with a shared future in the 21st century!

Thank you.