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China calls for united efforts in tackling the novel coronavirus outbreak to prevent the epidemic from spreading further, China's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Zhang Jun, said on Friday.
The remarks come hours after World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the novel coronavirus outbreak has become a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC).
Most pressing task
Zhang stressed that fighting against the outbreak is the most important and pressing task for the Chinese government, noting that China always holds an open, transparent and responsible attitude towards international cooperation on epidemic prevention.
He called for a consolidated efforts from the international community amid the outbreak, reiterating Ghebreyesus's statement which highlighted the necessity to enhance response for countries with fragile health systems as the main reason behind the PHEIC declaration.
The WHO has full confidence in China's capability to combat the virus, the ambassador said, citing Ghebreyesus' remarks, emphasizing there is no reason to impose unnecessary restrictions on international travel and trade.
Acknowledging the outbreak in China, Zhang urged all countries to take joint efforts in tackling the situation with a responsible attitude to prevent further impact as a result of overreaction amid misinformation and rumors.
China's Permanent Representative to the United Nations Zhang Jun (L) talks to reporters at the UN headquarters in New York, January 30, 2020. /CGTN Photo
WHO: 'China is setting a new standard for outbreak response'
Speaking at a press conference after a closed-door meeting of the Emergency Committee, he stressed that the WHO discourages or even opposes restrictions of travel and trade.
Under the International Health Regulations (IHR), the WHO director-general has the authority to determine that an outbreak constitutes a PHEIC when certain conditions are met. The designation is aimed at mobilizing more international resources to deal with the epidemic.
Since the IHR entered into force in 2007, the WHO has made multiple PHEIC declarations.
Ghebreyesus noted that Chinese President Xi Jinping personally commands and deploys the prevention and containment efforts.
"The speed with which China detected the outbreak, isolated the virus, sequenced the genome and shared it with WHO and the world are very impressive, and beyond words. So is China's commitment to transparency and to supporting other countries," he said.
"In many ways, China is actually setting a new standard for outbreak response," he added.
That reflects not only China's high sense of responsibility for the lives and health of its own people, but also its strong support for global disease prevention and control, he said.
Disinfection work is conducted in a train in China, January 30, 2020. /Xinhua Photo
Ghebreyesus said he believes that China will effectively contain and eventually defeat the epidemic, adding that China's efforts to combat the disease deserve respect and appreciation, and are worth learning from.
Now, the situation is still developing and more research is needed, and, particularly, countries with fragile health systems should enhance their responses, said the WHO chief.
That is the main reason behind the PHEIC declaration, he said, adding that considering global health security, it is also a necessary step to achieve a scientific, rational, and calm response based on evidence, and to help other countries take scientific, reasonable, and appropriate measures to prevent the epidemic.
China: 'Full confidence and capability in fighting against the outbreak'
Wu Zunyou, chief epidemiologist of the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, said that the PHEIC declaration is a standard practice of the WHO.
"China's current prevention and control measures are the strictest and very effective. We are confident that we can effectively contain the epidemic and finally overcome it," Wu said.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying echoed Wu's remarks on Friday, stressing that many of the prevention and containment measures China has taken far exceed relevant requirements for dealing with emergencies.
China has kept close communication with the WHO and relevant countries by providing timely information and sharing the gene sequence of the new coronavirus, said Hua.
Hua said China's efforts have been well recognized by WHO and other countries, reiterating that China has the confidence and capability to winning the battle against the outbreak.
The Chinese government is taking resolute and forceful measures to conduct scientific and effective prevention and control of the epidemic, said the spokesperson, adding that China is ready to work with WHO and relevant countries in safeguarding the public health in the region and worldwide.
Ghebreyesus visited China on Monday. He praised the Chinese government's timely and effective measures in fighting the novel coronavirus when meeting with President Xi and Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi, respectively.
(CGTN)
