President Xi Jinping meets with President of the European Council
Charles Michel and President of the European Commission Ursula von der
Leyen via video link in Beijing, on June 22, 2020. [Photo/Xinhua]
President's efforts further enhance China's relations with rest of the world
The COVID-19 pandemic may have pressed the "pause" button on
interaction between countries, but China's diplomacy led by President Xi
Jinping, in the form of phone calls, correspondence and
videoconferences, has helped to further enhance the country's relations
with the rest of the world amid the pandemic, officials and experts
said.
The intensive interactions between Xi and other world leaders in the
first half of this year have contributed to jointly working out ways to
effectively respond to the public health crisis and offset the impact of
the pandemic on the world economy, they said.
Since the start of the outbreak, Xi has engaged with more than 50
foreign leaders and heads of international organizations through phone
calls and meetings, and advanced international cooperation in fighting
the novel coronavirus. On June 22, he met with the European Union's new
leadership-European Council President Charles Michel and European
Commission President Ursula von der Leyen-via video link to strengthen
China-EU cooperation.
He also attended a series of virtual multilateral events, including the
Extraordinary G20 Leaders' Summit and the opening of the 73rd World
Health Assembly, and hosted the Extraordinary China-Africa Summit on
Solidarity Against COVID-19 via video link.
In addition, Xi sent letters to foreign leaders to extend his sympathy
to the people of epidemic-affected countries, express China's support to
them for their efforts in curbing the virus and strengthen bilateral
ties.
Speaking at a news conference on the sidelines of the annual session of
the National People's Congress, the nation's top legislature, on May
24, State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi said that in all of
Xi's diplomatic engagements in what was called "cloud diplomacy", in the
form of phone calls, correspondence and video conferences, the
president underscored China's unequivocal commitment to global
solidarity and cooperation against COVID-19.
More than 170 foreign leaders, 50-plus heads of international and
regional organizations and more than 300 political parties or
organizations have expressed their sympathy over the outbreak and their
support for China's efforts to curb the virus through phone calls,
letters or making statements, the Foreign Ministry said.
China has also provided aid in medical supplies and expertise to other
countries while sharing information and anti-epidemic experience with
them. By the end of May, China had exported anti-epidemic materials such
as masks and protective clothing to over 200 countries and regions, the
ministry said.
Vice-Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu said at a news conference last month
that China's relations with the majority of countries have been improved
and strengthened amid the epidemic and its circle of friends has been
expanded.
China's cooperation with the international community in the fight
against the virus has significantly enhanced its ties with other
countries and promoted pragmatic cooperation with them, Ma said.
Addressing the Extraordinary G20 Leaders' Summit, Xi called on the
international community to be resolute in fighting a global war against
COVID-19, make a collective response for control and treatment at the
international level, leverage and coordinate international macro
policies to counteract the negative impact of the contagion and prevent
the world economy from falling into recession.
In a written message to the China-Arab States Political Parties
Dialogue Extraordinary Meeting held via video link last week, Syrian
President Bashar al-Assad, who is also the general secretary of the
Ba'ath Party in Syria, praised China's active efforts in upholding
cooperation with the international community in the fight against the
disease.
He said that China has played a significant role in responding to the
pandemic, and he expressed hope that China will play a bigger role in
the field of international politics.
Xi announced at the opening of the 73rd World Health Assembly that
China will provide $2 billion over two years to help with COVID-19
response and with economic and social development in affected countries.
He said that a COVID-19 vaccine developed in China, when available,
will be made a global public good.
While hosting the Extraordinary China-Africa Summit on Solidarity
Against COVID-19 on June 17, Xi announced an array of measures to
support African countries in curbing the epidemic and promoting
socioeconomic development, including cancellation of the debt of
relevant African countries in the form of interest-free government loans
that are due to mature by the end of 2020 within the framework of the
Forum on China-Africa Cooperation.
Matteo Giovannini, a finance professional at the Industrial and
Commercial Bank of China in Beijing and a member of the China Task Force
at the Italian Ministry of Economic Development, said that China's
decision represents an act of generosity toward countries facing a
difficult time by voluntarily deciding to cancel part of the pending
debt.
"China is showing real economic responsibility through actions that
speak much louder than other nations' words in the past, and by doing
this it is demonstrating that the country is ready to assume a prominent
role at a time when global leadership is more than needed," Giovannini
said in an opinion piece published on the website of the China Global
Television Network.
Observers said that China's "cloud diplomacy" amid COVID-19 has boosted
international efforts in joint response to the unprecedented global
public health crisis, and also injected confidence into the world
economic recovery.
Ruan Zongze, executive vice-president of the China Institute of
International Studies, said "cloud diplomacy" was developed at a time
when the pandemic dramatically affected diplomatic activities due to
travel restrictions, but through it, China has enhanced understanding
and support with the rest of the world during such a trying time.
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