What peaceful protesters do in Hong Kong, China.....

Full text: Speech by President Xi Jinping at opening of 73rd World Health Assembly

Fighting COVID-19 Through Solidarity and Cooperation
 Building a Global Community of Health for All

Statement by H.E. Xi Jinping
President of the People’s Republic of China
At Virtual Event of Opening of the 73rd World Health Assembly

Beijing, 18 May 2020

President of the World Health Assembly,
Director General of the World Health Organization,
Dear Delegates,

To begin with, I wish to say that it is of significant importance for this World Health Assembly to be held at such a critical moment as the human race battles this novel coronavirus.

What we are facing is the most serious global public health emergency since the end of World War II. Catching the world by surprise, COVID-19 has hit over 210 countries and regions, affected more than seven billion people around the world and claimed over 300,000 precious lives. I mourn for every life lost and express condolences to the bereaved families.

The history of human civilization is one of fighting diseases and tiding over disasters. The virus does not respect borders. Nor is race or nationality relevant in the face of the disease. Confronted by the ravages of COVID-19, the international community has not flinched. The people of all countries have tackled the virus head on. Around the world, people have looked out for each other and pulled together as one. With love and compassion, we have forged extraordinary synergy in the fight against COVID-19.

In China, after making painstaking efforts and enormous sacrifice, we have turned the tide on the virus and protected the life and health of our people. All along, we have acted with openness, transparency and responsibility. We have provided information to WHO and relevant countries in a most timely fashion. We have released the genome sequence at the earliest possible time. We have shared control and treatment experience with the world without reservation. We have done everything in our power to support and assist countries in need.

Mr. President,

Even as we meet, the virus is still raging, and more must be done to bring it under control. To this end, I want to make the following proposals:

First, we must do everything we can for COVID-19 control and treatment. This is a most urgent task. We must always put the people first, for nothing in the world is more precious than people’s lives. We need to deploy medical expertise and critical supplies to places where they are needed the most. We need to take strong steps in such key areas as prevention, quarantine, detection, treatment and tracing. We need to move as fast as we can to curb the global spread of the virus and do our best to stem cross-border transmission. We need to step up information sharing, exchange experience and best practice, and pursue international cooperation on testing methods, clinical treatment, and vaccine and medicine research and development. We also need to continue supporting global research by scientists on the source and transmission routes of the virus.

Second, the World Health Organization should lead the global response. Under the leadership of Dr. Tedros, WHO has made a major contribution in leading and advancing the global response to COVID-19. Its good work is applauded by the international community. At this crucial juncture, to support WHO is to support international cooperation and the battle for saving lives as well. China calls on the international community to increase political and financial support for WHO so as to mobilize resources worldwide to defeat the virus.

Third, we must provide greater support for Africa. Developing countries, African countries in particular, have weaker public health systems. Helping them build capacity must be our top priority in COVID-19 response. The world needs to provide more material, technological and personnel support for African countries. China has sent a tremendous amount of medical supplies and assistance to over 50 African countries and the African Union. Five Chinese medical expert teams have also been sent to the African continent. In total, in the past seven decades, over 200 million people in Africa have received care and treatment from Chinese medical teams. At present, 46 resident Chinese medical teams are in Africa helping with COVID-19 containment efforts locally.

Fourth, we must strengthen global governance in the area of public health. We human beings will eventually prevail over the coronavirus. Yet this may not be the last time a major health emergency comes knocking at our door. In view of the weaknesses and deficiencies exposed by COVID-19, we need to improve the governance system for public health security. We need to respond more quickly to public health emergencies and establish global and regional reserve centers of anti-epidemic supplies. 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.

Fifth, we must restore economic and social development. While working on an ongoing basis to contain the virus, countries where conditions permit may reopen businesses and schools in an orderly fashion in observance of WHO’s professional recommendations. In the meantime, international macroeconomic policy coordination should be stepped up and the global industrial and supply chains be kept stable and unclogged if we are to restore growth to the world economy.

Sixth, we must strengthen international cooperation. Mankind is a community with a shared future. Solidarity and cooperation is our most powerful weapon for defeating the virus. This is the key lesson the world has learned from fighting HIV/AIDS, Ebola, avian influenza, influenza A (H1N1) and other major epidemics. And solidarity and cooperation is a sure way through which we, the people of the world, can defeat this novel coronavirus.

Mr. President,

China stands for the vision of building a community with a shared future for mankind. China takes it as its responsibility to ensure not just the life and health of its own citizens, but also global public health. For the sake of boosting international cooperation against COVID-19, I would like to announce the following:

— China will provide US$2 billion over two years to help with COVID-19 response and with economic and social development in affected countries, especially developing countries.

— China will work with the UN to set up a global humanitarian response depot and hub in China, 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.

— 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.

— China will work with other G20 members to implement the Debt Service Suspension Initiative for the poorest countries. China is also ready to work with the international community to bolster support for the hardest-hit countries under the greatest strain of debt service, so that they could tide over the current difficulties.

To conclude, I call on all of us to come together and work as one. Let’s make concerted efforts to protect the life and health of people in all countries. Let’s work together to safeguard planet Earth, our common home. Let’s work together to build a global community of health for all!

I thank you.

People's Daily, China: The annual #TwoSessions, the NPC and CPPCC meetings, will kick off this week

People's Daily, China
The annual #TwoSessions, the NPC and CPPCC meetings, will kick off this week. Under #COVID19, how will this year different from previous years? Let’s take a look 

#TwoSessions under #COVID19: Body temperature checks, masks, and nucleic acid tests are the new must-do for delegates
After a delay of more than two months due to the epidemic/pandemic, the National People’s Congress, the top legislature, is set to open its annual session on May 22 while the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, the top political advisory body, will hold its annual session starting on May 21. Under #COVID19, this year’s delegates have underwent special procedures and must-do requirements.
Every year, delegates from across China gather in Beijing for the meetings. While security inspection has always been a must-do at the hotels where they reside, this year, they must also have their temperature checked among other things under the epidemic prevention measures.
Leading officials of China’s cabinet departments are usually required to sit in on the meetings during the country’s annual national legislative and political advisory sessions as non-voting participants. However, this year, amid measures aimed at preventing COVID-19 spread, they will teleconference.
Conference rooms will be regularly disinfected so that things like seats and microphones are clean. Assigned drivers are also required to wear masks to prevent any potential virus outbreak.
At restaurants, each table is equipped with only a single chair to prevent gathering. At the same time, disposable gloves, thermometer guns, masks, zipper storage bags, and other protective gear are available, Beijing Youth Daily reported.
Cai Qi, Party chief of Beijing, pointed out that the Two Sessions this year will be held under the special background of epidemic prevention and control, therefore health-monitoring measures will be tightened and related emergency response plans have been improved. (By Dai Xiaoyu)

Chinaphobia by Tugrul Keskin

Chinaphobia

Recently, we have seen many news and articles on this subject published by North American, Australian and European newspapers and journals. To me, this is based on fear-mongering, rather than any real concerns about China's growing influence in world politics. These 'news items' remind me of Islamophobia, Antisemitism (before the Nazis came to the power) and anti-immigration attitudes prevalent in the US, Europe and Australia. I call this new trend Chinaphobia. In the last few months, many articles have been published on subjects related with the Uyghurs, Hui and Tibet in China, concerning human rights. I agree with some of these articles but disagree with most of them; however, I believe this fear mongering is not about real academic concerns, or human rights but are instead tied more directly with security and policy-oriented scholarship, and most importantly, racism.

On the other hand, I do not argue that China is a perfect place on earth concerning human rights, democracy, openness, and so on. However, China is a developing country, changing rapidly from a rural populated society to one with an urbanized social structure. Modernization is taking place; people's everyday lives are changing from Shandong to Xian. We need to look at these changes, and tie them to the underlying social, political and economic transformation in the country. Do you think there is a perfect democracy in Europe, when we see a proliferation of right wing and anti-immigration movements? Do you think there are absolute human rights in the US in the context of the Black Struggle, and the experience of American Indians and other minorities? Do you think Australia loves Indians, Chinese, Muslims and Middle Easterners or the aborigines? We have a saying in Turkish, that before you criticize or assume the intentions of others, you need to take a look at the mirror!

Of course, China is trying to influence the foreign and domestic politics of other countries, but so is the US, Germany, Iran, Turkey, Russia, and every other country. Nothing is new here. This is the reality of international relations and comparative politics. If you would like to understand the soft power approach, we should review the Fulbright scholarship or the British Council in Turkey, right? Is China doing anything very different from these examples of soft power political influence in academia? We should answer this question objectively.

Every country in the world has certain social, political and economic problems, obstacles and challenges, like China, Turkey, US or Germany. We, scholars and academicians should study these issues without prejudice or any political agenda. This short piece is a good presentation of prejudice with political agenda within academia. Racism is still alive.      

Any thoughts or feedback are very welcome.

Best, salaam and peace to all,

Tugrul Keskin

Shanghai University

China

News on China 2020/05/13

1.Traditional Chinese medicine helps fight COVID-19 around the globe with eastern wisdom

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has won more and more recognition around the world for its important role in treating the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19). In many countries across the globe, including the U.S., Laos, Iran and South Korea, TCM has been helping with the global fight against the pandemic in various ways.It is widely believed that bringing into play the strengths of TCM, treating COVID-19 patients through a combination of TCM and Western medicine, has been a highlight of China’s experience in fighting the virus.

http://en.people.cn/n3/2020/0513/c90000-9689809.html

2.CPAFFC president: China’s people-to-people diplomacy contributes to global COVID-19 control

China’s people-to-people diplomacy has made huge contributions to global COVID-19 control and will help the world better understand China, said Lin Songtian, president of the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC).

http://en.people.cn/n3/2020/0513/c90000-9689745.html

3.Djibouti awards Chinese medics with Independence Day Medal for coronavirus assistance

Djibouti's Prime Minister Abdoulkader Kamil Mohamed honored a group of Chinese doctors and nurses with the country's highest honor on Sunday in recognition of their role in helping local medics fight the coronavirus.

https://news.cgtn.com/news/2020-05-11/Virus-hit-Djibouti-honors-Chinese-medics-for-their-help--QoHuZiWQw0/index.html

4. U.S. CDC had "very good interactions" with China at scientific level, says health official

Robert Redfield, director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), said on Tuesday that his agency "had very good interactions" with its Chinese counterpart at the scientific level after the COVID-19 outbreak in China.

http://en.people.cn/n3/2020/0513/c90000-9689824.html

 

5.Some U.S. politicians irresponsible in scapegoating China over their own incompetence

It is quite clear that the seriousness of the epidemic situation in the U.S. is the result of poor governance from some officials. It is dishonest and irresponsible for some U.S. politicians to pass the buck to China.

http://en.people.cn/n3/2020/0512/c90000-9689489.html

6.U.S. death toll "almost certainly" higher than reported, says Fauci

Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said on Tuesday many experts believe more people in the United States have died from COVID-19 than those who have been reported.

http://en.people.cn/n3/2020/0513/c90000-9689658.html

7.World left in shock over US sabotage of global cooperation against COVID-19

The US now has the largest number of confirmed cases and fatalities of COVID-19 in the world, and is the current epicenter of the pandemic. Its reluctance to promote global cooperation to tackle the lethal virus has made it a less credible and consistent partner for the international community. Experts and officials around the world have criticized the nation’s egoism amid a global pandemic, condemning its failure to protect its own people, as well as its hindering of joint global efforts to stop the virus’ spread.

http://en.people.cn/n3/2020/0512/c90000-9689593.html

8.‘Trump Death Clock’ counts preventable US coronavirus deaths

A newly erected billboard in New York's Times Square shows the number of US coronavirus deaths that its creator says could have been avoided if President Donald Trump had acted sooner - and it's called the "Trump Death Clock."

https://www.globaltimes.cn/content/1188136.shtml

Our Home Xinjiang - Evimiz Xinjiang -- AN CHUNK UK 纪录片《我到新疆去》

Evimiz Xinjiang -- 01 Li QiuPing 纪录片《我到新疆去》

Evimiz Xinjiang -- 02 AN CHUNK UK 纪录片《我到新疆去》

Evimiz Xinjiang --03 HUANG ZHENFEI

Evimiz Xinjiang -- 04 ZHOU Lina 纪录片《我到新疆去》

Magnificent China - Görkemli Çin 盛世中华

News on China 2020/05/07

1. Chinese mainland ranks first in COVID-19 performance index: survey

Chinese mainland citizens were largely satisfied with their own government's COVID-19 crisis response, while citizens in Western countries felt their governments did poorly, according to the findings of a global survey released on Wednesday.

http://en.people.cn/n3/2020/0507/c90000-9687453.html

2. Country backs WHO probe into virus origin

The Foreign Ministry said on Wednesday that China stands ready to continue close cooperation with the World Health Organization to find the origin of the novel coronavirus that causes COVID-19, but it firmly opposes any political manipulation under the guise of an investigation of its origin.

http://en.people.cn/n3/2020/0507/c90000-9687494.html

3. China rolls out practical measures to guarantee employment

The Chinese central government and local governments have taken frequent, prompt and practical measures to stabilize and guarantee employment in order to overcome the impact of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.

http://en.people.cn/n3/2020/0507/c90000-9687571.html

4. Mobilization to aid Wuhan during time of outbreak called crucial

China has unique institutional advantages when it comes to social mobilization, said Jiao Yahui, an official with the National Health Commission. Such advantages ensured the government could send more than 42,000 medical workers from all over the country to Wuhan and turn public hospitals in the city into designated hospitals for COVID-19 in the shortest time to solve the pressing problem of medical resource shortages, Jiao said

http://www.chinadailyhk.com/article/129609#Mobilization-to-aid-Wuhan-during-time-of-outbreak-called-crucial

5. China to join WHO global initiative against pandemic

The initiative was announced last month to accelerate the development, production, and equitable distribution of vaccines, diagnostics, and therapeutics for COVID-19.

http://www.chinadailyhk.com/article/129694#China-to-join-WHO-global-initiative-against-pandemic

6. Exclusive: U.S. drafts rule to allow Huawei and U.S. firms to work together on 5G standards – sources

The U.S. Department of Commerce is close to signing off on a new rule that would allow U.S. companies to work with China’s Huawei Technologies on setting standards for next generation 5G networks, people familiar with the matter said.

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-china-huawei-tech/u-s-drafts-rule-to-allow-huawei-and-u-s-firms-to-work-together-on-5g-standards-sources-idUSKBN22I1ZY

7. US experts refute lab theory

Experts from the World Health Organization and the United States, including intelligence analysts, have contested some US politicians' claims that the novel coronavirus originated in a Chinese research laboratory.

http://www.chinadailyhk.com/article/129601#US-experts-refute-lab-theory

8. Ousted vaccine director files whistleblower complaint alleging coronavirus warnings were ignored

Dr. Rick Bright, the ousted director of the office involved in developing a coronavirus vaccine, formally filed an extensive whistleblower complaint Tuesday alleging his early warnings about the coronavirus were ignored and that his caution at a treatment favored by President Donald Trump led to his removal.

https://edition.cnn.com/2020/05/05/politics/rick-bright-complaint/index.html

 

9. Yale epidemiologist says U.S. response to coronavirus "close to genocide by default"

http://en.people.cn/n3/2020/0507/c90000-9687524.html

10. Politicizing coronavirus waste of time in pandemic battle

As the novel coronavirus rages on worldwide, politicizing the outbreak won't eliminate the virus. Instead, this global fight demands collaboration.

http://en.people.cn/n3/2020/0507/c90000-9687394.html

11. U.S. politicians reveal their cold-bloodedness in pandemic response

Viruses are common enemies of human beings and the COVID-19 pandemic poses common challenges for all countries. It is a humane and just act for countries to do their best to help others in the pandemic while maintaining strict prevention and control policies at home.

http://en.people.cn/n3/2020/0506/c90000-9687325.html

12. Political goals hid under U.S. speculations on China’s COVID-19 statistics

China has always taken people’s lives as the top priority in the sudden outbreak of the novel coronavirus pneumonia, trying its best to improve the cure rate and lower mortality to save the life of every patient. Many Chinese lost their lives due to the major pandemic, which placed the nation into deep lament.

http://en.people.cn/n3/2020/0506/c90000-9687255.html

News on China 2020/05/06

1.Holiday economy rebounds in China

Travelers made 115m trips, spent $6.74b during May Day holiday. China on Tuesday marked a milestone in its efforts to recover from the coronavirus pandemic, as over 100 million tourists flocked to popular attraction sites across the country during the just-concluded May Day holiday and spent billions of dollars, all while averting a much-feared resurgence of COVID-19 cases.

http://en.people.cn/n3/2020/0506/c90000-9687120.html

2.Chinese medical teams contribute to the medical relief work in Africa

Chinese medical teams have made significant contributions to the epidemic prevention and control work in Africa, as many medical personnels have fought on the frontlines in efforts to help contain the spread of the coronavirus in the region.

http://en.people.cn/n3/2020/0506/c90000-9687025.html

3.Chinese ambassador: Ignoring the facts to blame China will only make things worse

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/chinese-ambassador-cui-tiankai-blaming-china-will-not-end-this-pandemic/2020/05/05/4e1d61dc-8f03-11ea-a9c0-73b93422d691_story.html

4. China launches manned spacecraft prototype with new Long March 5B rocket

China successfully launched a prototype of its next-generation manned spacecraft – without astronauts – along with a new version of its heavy-lift Long March 5 rocket on Tuesday.

https://www.globaltimes.cn/content/1187446.shtml

5.Coronavirus quickly spread around the world starting late last year, new genetic analysis shows

A new genetic analysis of the virus that causes Covid-19 taken from more than 7,600 patients around the world shows it has been circulating in people since late last year, and must have spread extremely quickly after the first infection.

https://edition.cnn.com/2020/05/05/health/genetics-coronavirus-spread-study/index.html

6.Trump officials try to enlist foreign allies in pressure campaign against China over coronavirus response

With the general election just six months away, and the global economy in shambles because of the coronavirus, there is increasing urgency inside the White House and among President Donald Trump's Republican allies to blame China over its failure to stem the spread of the disease early on.

https://www.cnn.com/2020/05/05/politics/trump-enlist-foreign-allies-blame-china-coronavirus/index.html

7.US Belleville NJ mayor believes he had COVID-19 in November: US media

The mayor of Belleville, New Jersey, Michael Melham has tested positive for coronavirus antibodies, and believes he contracted COVID-19 in November — more than two months before the U.S. first reported cases of the new disease in Washington State, US media reported on April 30.

http://en.people.cn/n3/2020/0506/c90000-9687201.html