Working Together to Meet Global Public Health Security Challenges and Build the Health Silk Road

Zhu Xiang

Secretariat， Silk Road Think Tank Association

The Silk Road Think Tank Association Thematic Cloud Forum， hosted by the Silk Road Think Tank Association （SRTA） and jointly organized by the China Center for Contemporary World Studies （CCCWS） of the International Department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China （IDCPC） and the Chongyang Institute for Financial Studies at the Renmin University of China， was convened on April 24th， 2020 in Beijing， China. Minister Song Tao of the IDCPC delivered a written speech. Nine members of the SRTA International Advisory Board， including President of Socialist International and former Prime Minister of Greece George Papandreou， former President of Slovenia Danilo Turk， former Prime Minister of France Dominique de Villepin， former Prime Minister of Italy Massimo DAlema， former Prime Minister of Tanzania Mizengo Peter Pinda， former Prime Minister of Egypt EssamSharaf， former Vice President of Iran Hassan Ghafourifard， former Prime Minister of Bosnia and Herzegovina Zlatko Lagumdzija and former President of Congress of Thailand BhokinBhalakula， and over 30 political dignitaries and think tank scholars attended the forum via video. GuoYezhou， Vice Minister of the IDCPC and co-Chairman of the SRTA Council presided over the opening ceremony， the International Advisory Board meeting and the launching ceremony of the Joint Statement of the Silk Road Think Tank Association International Advisory Board on Strengthening International Cooperation in the Fight against COVID-19. Focusing on the theme of “Working Together to Meet Global Public Health Security Challenges and Build the Health Silk Road”， the forum held thematic discussions on “World in COVID19 Pandemic—How to Turn Crisis into Opportunity” and “Building A Silk Road of Health Amid Pandemic—How to Travel Far and Safe”. The participating political dignitaries and think tank scholars acknowledged the importance of building the Health Silk Road and shared their insights and suggestions on building the Health Silk Road.

Grasping the Profound

Significance of Building

the Health Silk Road

Minister Song Tao of the IDCPC stated in his written speech at the opening ceremony that the COVID-19 pandemic is a common challenge facing human society. Faced with the pandemic， General Secretary Xi Jinping of the CPC has personally taken charge and planned response， demanding to put the health and safety of Chinese people before everything else. The Chinese government and Chinese people have waged a peoples war against the virus. With devoted efforts， China has basically contained the COVID-19 and achieved remarkable outcomes in the battle against the pandemic. Chinas efforts to take decisive measures and strive for positive results with a strong will and faith of sure success have been widely appreciated by the international community. Upholding the concept of a community of a shared future for humanity and acting in the international humanitarian spirit， China also actively provides support and assistance to other countries affected by the pandemic within its capacity. The COVID-19 pandemic once again exposes the urgency to strengthen global public health cooperation and highlights the significance of advancing cooperation within the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative （BRI） and building a community of a shared future for humanity. We expect the SRTA members to work together as advocates of anti-epidemic cooperation， spreaders of rational voices， builders of the Health Silk Road and promoters of cooperation and development to contribute more to jointly addressing the challenges of public health security and building the Health Silk Road.

Taking Multilateral

International Organizations

as Platforms

to Promote International

Coordination and Cooperation

Former Prime Minister of Bosnia and Herzegovina Zlatko Lagumdzija suggested the United Nations （UN） 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development has provided basic reference for countries around the world to achieve high-quality development， and that the World Health Organization （WHO） has made significant contributions to helping countries cope with medical and health challenges. Countries should jointly support the UN， the WHO and other multilateral international institutions to play a crucial role and deepen international cooperation. Former Prime Minister of Egypt EssamSharaf held that in the ever more connected “global village”， no country can stand alone to meet global challenges on its own. The role of the UN and other multilateral international organizations should be further strengthened， rather than weakened. Collaboration is the magic key to protect human life and maintain the stability of the international community. Former Prime Minister of Italy Massimo DAlema pointed out that the history of human development is a grand annals recording the efforts to rise from disasters and strive forward. In todays world， countries need to bring into full play the coordination mechanism within the framework of G20， strengthen the multilateral international organizations capacity to coordinate in international affairs， and thus build a sound foundation for deepening multilateral cooperation. Former Prime Minister of Tanzania Mizengo Peter Pinda stated that as a responsible major country， China has taken concrete actions to provide anti-epidemic support to other countries and the WHO. African countries value the role of multilateral international organizations and are willing to work with China to uphold the concept of a community of a shared future for humanity and make due contributions to strengthening international coordination and cooperation. Former Vice President of Iran Hassan Ghafourifard held the view that the COVID-19 pandemic has adversely affected the world economic development and peoples well-being， and many developing countries have faced tough challenges to development. He called on all countries in the world to establish a coordinated anti-epidemic front， give full play to the due role of international organizations and bring the world back on the track of development as soon as possible. Francesco Maringio， President of Italy Association for the Promotion of New Silk Road， suggested that actions taken by the CPC and the Chinese government have played a critical role in the global efforts against the pandemic. The CPCs recent signing of a joint initiative with over 200 political parties around the world has fully reflected demonstrated the importance China has attached to multilateral cooperation. We should work together to make due contributions to world health security. Sergey Sanakoev， Chairman of Russian-Chinese Analytical Center， believed that the pandemic outbreak has accelerated the evolution of the international landscape. Developed countries should cooperate with emerging market economies in the principles of fairness， transparency and openness， enhance the role of multilateral international organizations as the “executive coordinator” and stand in solidarity to tackle challenges.

Taking fairness and rationality

as the criteria to oppose

stigmatization

Former President of Slovenia Danilo Turk pointed out that stigmatizing others and shifting blame to others as some countries did wont help the global fight against the pandemic. People in the world should stand in solidarity instead of finger-pointing and blaming one another. Only by truly connecting the people can we jointly advance the building of the Health Silk Road. President of Socialist International and former Prime Minister of Greece George Papandreou suggested that the pandemic is an accurate reflection of the meaning and significance of the community with a shared future for humanity. People all over the world should support such multilateral international institutions as the WHO to play a leading and coordinating role in global affairs and jointly safeguard human security in the spirit of equality and cooperation. Former Prime Minister of Egypt EssamSharaf pointed out that human society should respond to the pandemic in the spirit of solidarity， cement the foundation of mutual trust and friendship among people of all countries， refuse to relate public health issues with any country or nation， and work together to advance the building of the Health Silk Road in the true spirit of equality and mutual trust. Former Vice President of Iran Hassan Ghafourifard stated that the Iranian government and people fully appreciate Chinas enormous support for Iran in the fight against the pandemic. In the face of global challenges， developed countries should work together with developing countries， discard discrimination and stigmatization， foster mutual trust and friendly relations among the people， facilitate people-to-people exchanges， tighten people-to-people bond， and jointly contribute wisdom to the building of the Health Silk Road. Former Prime Minister of France Dominique de Villepin pointed out that the pandemic has caused panic in some countries and turbulence in the international situation. Some countries should refrain from blaming others as soon as possible， and instead， take effective measures to contain the pandemic and contribute to the joint international response to COVID-19 in a fair and responsible manner. Sergey Sanakoev， Chairman of Russian-Chinese Analytical Center， held the view that Russia and China make the right response to common challenges after the pandemic outbreak by helping and supporting each other and engaging in cooperation in an attitude of being responsible to their own peoples and the international community. It is extremely irresponsible for some western countries to shift blame to other countries for their own failure in containing the pandemic and those countries deserve our condemnation. Zamir Awan， Deputy Director of the Chinese Studies Center at the National University of Science and Technology of Pakistan stated that the Chinese government and people have prioritized the anti-epidemic efforts and donated anti-virus supplies to many countries， demonstrating the firm determination of the Chinese government and people to safeguard world health security and peoples well-being. Some countries took ineffective measures and wasted the precious time bought by Chinas fight against the virus. Yet， they unreasonably criticized China. We should stand against such unreasonable behaviors.

Taking People-to-People

Bond as Cornerstone to

Advance the Building of

the Health Silk Road

Former Prime Minister of Tanzania Mizengo Peter Pinda believed that Africa-China friendship has risen from difficulties and challenges to become even stronger. African people cherish friendly exchanges with Chinese people and expect to further deepen people-to-people exchanges. African people and Chinese people will work together to build a bridge of friendship linking the Health Silk Road. Former President of Slovenia Danilo Turk suggested that unity and cooperation are the only right choice for mankind when facing common challenges. The building of the Health Silk Road not only requires R&D cooperation in such fields as medicine， sanitation and vaccines， but also needs an international environment in which people of all countries help one another and show cordiality and friendliness toward one another. Former Prime Minister of Italy Massimo DAlema suggested that Italy is one of the countries hit severely by the pandemic. Assistance from China arrived in Italy in a timely manner and effectively helped Italy tackle the pandemic. Italian people are willing to work with the Chinese people to open up more channels for people-to-people exchanges， learn from each other， and contribute non-governmental efforts to the building of the Health Silk Road. Former Prime Minister of France Dominique de Villepin thought that the Chinese people have made their own efforts to quickly contain the COVID-19 and provided support and assistance to many countries within their capabilities. Countries should also continue to deepen people-to-people exchange in the spirit of friendship and mutual trust and actively advance the building of the Health Silk Road within the framework of the BRI. Former President of Congress of Thailand BhokinBhalakula stated that Chinas fight against the COVID-19 has set a shining example for all countries in the world. We should jointly support the UN， the WHO and other multilateral international organizations to play the role of coordinator and leader and tackle international challenges in a spirit of cooperation. John Ross， former Director of Economic and Business Policy of London regarded Chinas anti-epidemic model as an example for countries all over the world. Countries should stop baseless smearing and learn from China in a fair and just spirit. People of all countries should work together with the Chinese people to bring the social order back to normal and build a firm foundation for building the Health Silk Road and recovering the world economy. Chui Huan， Head of New silk road Institute of the Republic of Korea regarded South Korea and Chinas mutual help and assistance as a classic epitome of the ongoing joint anti-epidemic efforts， demonstrating the spirit of friendship and mutual assistance between the Korean and Chinese peoples and standing in sharp contrast to the groundless and malicious smearing for self-protection. He hoped that the Korean and Chinese people could join hands to deliver benefits to the two peoples， set an example of sound cooperation in building the Health Silk Road， and make due contributions to international public health governance.

The forum unanimously adopted the Joint Statement. GuoYezhou， Vice Minister of the IDCPC and co-Chairman of the SRTA Council suggested that the Joint Statement has solicited and absorbed the views and suggestions of the SRTA International Advisory Board members， reflected their thorough assessment and profound insight on the international landscape amid the COVID-19 pandemic， and demonstrated their common expectation for the international community to fight together against the pandemic. The members acknowledged and applauded the Joint Statement and deemed it is extremely important to shape the international public opinions to garner support for the joint efforts to fight the pandemic.

The Joint Statement emphasizes that COVID-19 brings the most urgent and serious challenge to both the health of humanity and world peace and development. In order to jointly respond to the pandemic， continued efforts should be made to act on the vision of building a community with a shared future for humanity towards stronger solidarity and cooperation. Efforts should also be made to oppose the politicization of public health issues， the stigmatization of other countries under the pretext of COVID-19 and discriminatory comments and practices against any country， region or ethnic group. The leading role of the WHO is highly commended in synchronizing international cooperation and response to the pandemic. Stronger support should be offered to developing countries in their fight against COVID-19. The efforts of international financial institutions are welcomed to take measures in support of countries in need and the positive actions of regional cooperative mechanisms are welcomed. Vulnerable groups of all kinds should be protected. Efforts should be made to stabilize trade and investment environment， minimize the disruption caused by the pandemic to international trade and transportation and preserve the smooth performance of global industrial chains and supply chains. BRI cooperation partners must strengthen cooperation to jointly fight against the COVID-19 pandemic， push forward the resumption of work and production of major cooperation projects at the earliest possible date and advance the building of the Health Silk Road. Countries should provide necessary support and help for all nationalities living， working and studying in their countries and make sure they get fair treatment and effective protection. SRTA members will make continuous efforts in this regard and call on all parties to bolster the conviction and confidence to defeat the outbreak with courage， solidarity， and wisdom and embrace a brighter tomorrow for all humanity.