China is willing to work with Italy to contribute to international cooperation in combating the
epidemic and to the construction of a Health Silk Road, Chinese President Xi Jinping said in a
phone conversation with Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte on March 16.
President Xi’s remarks injected confidence in the global fight against the novel coronavirus
(COVID-19) epidemic and facilitated global coordination and cooperation in this respect.
China and Italy have well explained the connotation of building a Health Silk Road with concrete
actions. When China was hit hard by coronavirus, the Italian government donated preventative
and protective materials to China. The Palazzo del Quirinale held a special concert and
livestreamed it through the country’s national TV station, to express the support and goodwill of
the Italian people toward China’s virus prevention efforts.
Currently, the virus is spreading rapidly in Italy. The Chinese government, and governments at
various levels have provided medical and material supplies for Italy, and a third batch of medical
experts will soon go to Italy for assistance.
China’s donations sent a signal of solidarity and friendship to Italy, which the country will never
forget, said Romano Prodi, former Prime Minister of Italy who also served as President of the
European Commission. He hopes people around the world can understand that they share the same
future.
The joint construction of a Health Silk Road has expanded the space for cooperation on co-
construction of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).
China welcomes the WHO to jointly establish the "health Silk Road", President Xi said during a
meeting with the then WHO Director-General Margaret Chan in Geneva, Switzerland, Jan. 2017.
Chan echoed President Xi's remarks, saying that the WHO is willing to enhance cooperation with
China under the framework of the BRI and appreciates China’s leadership and capability in
safeguarding global health security and global health governance.
As the first G7 power to sign the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with China to join the
BRI, Italy shares a sound foundation for cooperation with China over BRI construction. The two
countries have written a touching story of co-building of the Health Silk Road through battling
against the COVID-19 pneumonia together.
To jointly build the Health Silk Road serves as a new approach for perfecting global public health
governance. The practice of fighting against the COVID-19 pneumonia has once again proved that
isolation does nothing good and it’s impossible for any country to fight the virus alone. To win the
battle, countries must uphold solidarity and cooperation, be future-oriented, and improve global
health governance.
China has attached high attention to international collaboration since the outbreak of the epidemic.
The country has informed relevant parties of the epidemic information with openness,
transparency and a sense of responsibility, and maintained close cooperation with the WHO and
relevant countries.
China supports the United Nations (UN) and the WHO to mobilize the international society to
strengthen policy coordination and increase input of resources, particularly help developing
countries with weak public health systems take precautions and respond to the epidemic.
The country has given $20 million to the WHO for COVID-19 efforts, which will be used to assist
developing countries better cope with the epidemic and build a stronger public health system. In
addition, China has announced to offer help to 82 countries, the WHO, and the African Union, and
delivered assisting materials to relevant recipient countries and organizations.
The series of actions have manifested China’s sense of responsibility in uniting all countries to
fight against the epidemic and protecting the common destiny of humanity.
The global consequences of the COVID-19 pneumonia are far-reaching. While facing the
challenges, people also need to focus on the current problems and think about the future of global
health.
In a recent message of sympathy to French President Emmanuel Macron, President Xi proposed
the building of a community of common health for mankind, which is an important initiative that
concerns the future of mankind.
President Xi said China is willing to make concerted efforts with France to enhance international
cooperation in epidemic prevention and control, support the UN and the WHO playing a core role
in improving global public health governance, and build a community of common health for
mankind.
From proposing a Health Silk Road and to the building of a community of common health for
mankind, China stands ready to work together with all global partners to propel the perfecting of
global public health governance and improve medical and health care of the world.
The epidemic is still spreading globally. Countries must make the right choice, enhance unity and
take actions according to the principle of wide consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits,
so as to protect the lives of all mankind.
Experts of the second batch of the Chinese medical team exchange ideas with their Italian peers on
medical diagnostic and treatment technologies and prevention and control measures at a hospital
in Bergamo which is worst-affected by COVID-19 in Italy, March 20, 2020. (Photo courtesy of
Zhou Hua, associate chief physician of respiratory disease department of the First Affiliated
Hospital of the School of Medicine with Zhejiang University, who is also a member of the
Chinese medical team dispatched to Italy to help the COVID-19 control efforts there.)
A slogan to cheer up Italy in the fight against the novel coronavirus is written on the back of the
protective clothing of a Chinese medical expert. (Photo courtesy of Zhou Hua, associate chief
physician of respiratory disease department of the First Affiliated Hospital of the School of
Medicine with Zhejiang University, who is also a member
