The 73rd session of the World Health Assembly (WHA), the decision-making body of the World Health Organization (WHO), was held in Geneva between May 18 and 19.
In his speech to the opening ceremony of the assembly on May 18, President Xi Jinping outlined China’s support for the global fight against the novel coronavirus. Xi pledged that China will provide US$2 billion over the next two years to bolster the global curb on the virus, make any vaccines it may develop against the virus a global public good, as well as help with the pandemic response and economic and social development in affected counties, especially developing nations in Africa. During the past months, Chinese medical assistance to Africa has played a significant role in assisting financially strapped regions to curb the disease.
Also on May 18, U.S. President Donald Trump wrote an open letter to WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, threatening to permanently pull funding from the WHO, saying the organization had shown an “alarming lack of independence” from China. Actually, the U.S. Government has already halted most of its funding to the WHO.
On the one hand, Washington’s attempt to smear both the WHO and China’s efforts in fighting COVID-19 so as to cover its own incapability to handle the pandemic is futile and even disgusting. China always respects and will continue to support the WHO playing a leading role to defend global public health security and win the battle against the pandemic. The country has cooperated with the WHO in a timely and transparent manner since the early stages of the outbreak. Such close cooperation has enabled the WHO and the international community to quickly understand the pandemic situation, and provide a platform for Chinese medical experts to make more contributions to the global fight against the disease.
On the other hand, it is a legally binding obligation for the United States as a member of the WHO to pay its dues on time. Washington’s arbitrary reduction and suspension of funding for the international organization at such a crucial moment is an irresponsible and unilateral act in violation of its legal responsibility. Instead of blaming and scapegoating others, the U.S. administration should be ashamed of its dereliction, arrogance and the heavy casualties of life in the country.
Trump’s out-of-tune remarks were not welcomed. In his letter, Trump cited The Lancet to attack the WHO. However, chief editor of the famous medical journal soon rebuked his citation: “Dear president, please let me correct your record. The Lancet did not publish any report in early December 2019 about a virus spreading in Wuhan. The first reports we published were from Chinese scientists on January 24, 2020.”
Trump’s words have also drawn different opinions and even criticism from traditional allies of the U.S. German Chancellor Angela Merkel said that the WHO is the legitimate world organization for public health, adding that the world should continue to support its financing to ensure it is sustainable. South Korean President Moon Jae-in said that in order to safeguard the human health, his country will continue to work closely with the WHO. French President Emmanuel Macron called the 73rd session of the WHA the most important assembly in the history of the international organization.COVID-19 is the common enemy of the world and only united coordination by the whole world can conquer the pandemic. This is a time for unity, not for blaming and calling each other bad names. Solidarity is especially needed for the United States and China, two of the strongest economies in the world. In spite of great political discrepancies, the two nations should at least maintain a basic communication system. With such a system as a foundation, they can enhance mutual understanding and seek more common ground while reserving differences.
(The author is the editor-in-chief of Shenzhen Daily with a Ph.D. from the Journalism and Communication School of Wuhan University.)