On April 11, local time, the United Nations Security Council held an open meeting on the new crown epidemic and vaccine issues.
Zhang Jun, Permanent Representative of China to the United Nations, said that mankind has basically mastered effective means to fight the epidemic and has seen the light at the end of the tunnel.
At the same time, the epidemic is not over, and faster-spreading variants of viruses are emerging one after another, and it is far from the time for complacency to relax.
Only when all countries overcome the epidemic can the world declare its final victory.
Zhang Jun pointed out that in response to some current outstanding issues, he has the following views:
First, vigorously promote the construction of an "immune barrier".
Globally, the WHO target of 70% vaccination coverage is far from being achieved.
In particular, the vaccination rate in conflict countries is generally lower than the world average, and the vaccination rate in Congo (DRC), Yemen, Mali and other countries is even less than 1%.
Security Council Resolution 2565 calls for improved access and affordability of vaccines in conflict zones.
The top priority is to increase vaccine assistance and supply, so that no country will be left behind and no one will be forgotten.
China has provided about 2.2 billion doses of COVID-19 vaccine to more than 120 countries and international organizations, and is currently providing an additional 1 billion doses to African countries, 150 million doses to ASEAN countries, and 50 million doses to Central Asian countries for free.
We have donated $100 million to the COVID-19 Vaccine Implementation Plan and supplied 220 million doses.
The localization of vaccine production is an important step in enhancing the response capacity of developing countries.
China was the first to support the exemption of intellectual property rights for vaccines, and it was the first to transfer technology to developing countries. It has cooperated with 20 countries in production, and has formed an annual production capacity of 1 billion doses.
We support the early decision of the World Trade Organization on the exemption of intellectual property rights for vaccines and respond to the strong voices of developing countries.
Second, strengthen the construction of public health systems in developing countries.
Developing countries are disadvantaged in the global health system and face difficult challenges themselves.
Due to wars, inconvenient transportation, and backward medical conditions in many countries, even if there are sufficient vaccines, it is difficult to vaccinate all the people in need in time.
The "last mile" of vaccine accessibility is facing a bottleneck, and the root cause is the long-standing problem of an unsound public health system.
In order to better prevent and respond to the next pandemic, the international community must take a long-term perspective and vigorously help developing countries strengthen the construction of public health systems.
In this regard, it is necessary to expand the coverage of medical services, improve public infrastructure such as transportation and electricity, and cultivate more medical talents and medical personnel.
The Security Council, together with other institutions, should take a pragmatic approach and take concrete measures to give hope to countries in conflict.
Third, inject new impetus into post-pandemic recovery and economic and social development.
The epidemic has led to slowdown or even recession in the economic growth of many countries, and the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development faces even more daunting challenges.
The recent violent turmoil in the global political and security situation, the soaring prices of commodities such as energy and food, and the new development of trade protectionism have made many developing countries even worse off.
Faced with a more severe external environment, the importance and urgency of developing countries to achieve development have become more prominent.
The international community should attach great importance to this, and the United Nations should act quickly and take solid and effective measures to not only deal with the current crisis, but also explore long-term strategies to inject new hope into the world.
The starting point of China's global development initiative is to address the areas of poverty eradication, equitable access to vaccines, and financing for development, which are the most important concerns of developing countries, and to put development at the core of the global macro policy framework, in order to accelerate the implementation of the 2030 Agenda and Post-pandemic recovery provides a viable path.
China will hold a high-level meeting of the Group of Friends of the Global Development Initiative in the near future, and all parties are welcome to participate actively.
Fourth, practice genuine multilateralism.
After the outbreak, more than 6 million people lost their precious lives, and the lessons are profound and worth pondering.
The most precious thing in the world is human life, and putting people at the center is the most important guiding ideology in responding to the epidemic.
At the global level, solidarity and cooperation is the most powerful weapon to defeat the epidemic, and it is also the most powerful weapon to deal with other global challenges.
Under the new situation, we must strengthen the consciousness of a community with a shared future for mankind and jointly build a better world.
Zhang Jun emphasized that we must see that our world is still facing many challenges.
Holding on to the Cold War mentality, some countries have drawn ideological lines, created new bloc confrontations, constantly introduced unilateral sanctions with no bottom line, weaponized economic interdependence, forced countries to choose sides, and caused divisions in the international community. The world brings great uncertainty and risk.
These irresponsible behaviors harm others as well as themselves, and must be resolutely resisted.
Today's world needs true multilateralism all the more.
Facing the post-pandemic period, all countries should strengthen unity, respect each other, build trust and harmony, cooperate and win-win under the banner of the United Nations, and strive to open up a better future.
(CCTV reporter Gu Xiang)