On October 30, 2021 local time, State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus in Rome.
Wang Yi said, for more than a year, under the personal deployment and command of President Xi Jinping, the Chinese people have fought the people's war against the COVID-19 pandemic and achieved major strategic results. While doing its own things well, China always adheres to the concept of building a global community of health for all, overcomes its own difficulties and carried out the largest emergency humanitarian operation since the founding of New China to help countries alleviate their urgent needs when the world is most urgently needed. China has given play to its advantages, demonstrated its responsibilities and made its contributions. The WHO is the central organization in the global fight against the pandemic. China attaches great importance to the role of the WHO and is willing to strengthen cooperation in promoting the equitable distribution of vaccines, the research and development of anti-COVID medicines, and supporting African countries in the fight against the pandemic, so as to contribute positive energy to the global anti-pandemic cooperation.
Wang Yi said that unity is the most powerful weapon in fighting against the pandemic. The global fight against the pandemic is a major test of multilateralism. He hopes that the WHO will adhere to a scientific attitude and put people's lives and health first. He also hopes that the WHO will adhere to solidarity and cooperation, and oppose "politicizing", "labeling" and "stigmatizing" others in the name of fighting against the epidemic.
Wang Yi emphasized that the global origin-tracing of the virus should be conducted in an objective, scientific and responsible manner. The WHO should guard against all kinds of political hype, treat all member states as equals and earnestly respect all countries' sovereignty. China is willing to discuss future cooperation with the WHO on this basis.
Tedros said, the pandemic is a common enemy of the world. The WHO appreciates China's solidarity in providing assistance and supports to all countries in their fight against the pandemic, appreciates its support to and participation in COVAX, and its positive contributions to the equitable distribution of vaccines. The WHO has always adhered to the principles, not yielding to external political pressure, firmly opposed "blame-shifting", resolutely resisted politicizing the pandemic response, and will continue to carry out the origin-tracing of the virus with a scientific attitude.
