A customer has her body temperature taken before entering stalls in a shopping arcade in Kampala, capital of Uganda, on July 16, 2020. Photo: Xinhua

Since the outbreak of COVID-19, China has firmly supported the United Nations (UN) system, especially the World Health Organization's leading role in strengthening international cooperation and joint efforts to build a community of common health for mankind. 

China also supports the UN's call for closer cooperation with the African Union (AU) to help African countries tide over their difficulties, said Hua Chunying, spokesperson for China's Foreign Ministry, at a press conference on Monday.

State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi, who is Chinese President Xi Jinping's special envoy, attended a high-level video conference on cooperation between the UN and the AU held by the UN Security Council on December 4. 

During the meeting, Wang put forward a four-point proposal for the UN to take positive measures to help Africa - unite to fight the epidemic, build a peaceful and stable homeland, open up the vision of universal prosperity and share the fruits of global governance, Hua said.

"In order to support Africa's fight against COVID-19, President Xi has called for the Extraordinary China-Africa Summit on Solidarity Against COVID-19 with African leaders to strengthen unity and joint action," Hua said, noting that China has sent medical experts teams and provided much-needed anti-epidemic supplies to almost all African countries. 

Hua said that China, which has always been a true friend and fellow traveler of African countries, will continue to provide strong support for the African people to embrace peace and help African countries catch up with the train of modernization.

"We will also continue to speak out for African countries on the international stage and work together to build a closer China-Africa community with a shared future," she said.

Global Times