Lieutenant General He Lei. Photo: Xinhua

The special G20 summit on March 26 was a very important, timely and a remarkable meeting. The meeting marked two firsts in the G20's 20-year history: The first is a video conference for the first time; Second, for the first time the theme of the conference is to cope with COVID-19. This shows the complexity of the current worldwide COVID-19 epidemic and the urgency and necessity of fighting the epidemic with unity.

Chinese President Xi Jinping attended the meeting and delivered an important speech, which fully demonstrated China's firm determination to fight the epidemic with the international community. It fully reflects China's responsibility as a major country in promoting international cooperation in the fight against the epidemic. It also fully demonstrates China's positive attitude in supporting the G20 to strengthen coordination and cooperation and stabilize the world economy. The meeting issued a joint statement and achieved positive results.

Regarding the summit, I have concluded the following four points.

First, in the face of the fierce outbreak of COVID-19, President Xi called on the world to strengthen confidence and make concerted efforts to cope with it. This is the fundamental measure to overcome the epidemic and the basic experience of China in achieving major victories in the prevention and control of the epidemic. The practice of fighting against the epidemic in China has fully proved that new coronavirus can be overcome. This in itself has boosted the world's firm confidence in winning the global resistance war against the epidemic.

Second, President Xi emphasized that China will always remember and cherish friendship. During the most difficult period of China's fight against the epidemic, many members of the international community offered sincere help and support. We will always remember and cherish this friendship. Support and help should always be mutual. When the epidemic spread throughout the world and China 's fight against epidemic continued, it provided nearly 100 countries and international organizations such as Japan, South Korea, Italy, and the EU with equipment, technology, and experts needed for controlling the epidemic. The support provided by China fully demonstrates the responsibility of a responsible big country.

Third, President Xi's four-point initiative has boosted confidence for countries around the world, joined hands to fight the epidemic, and stabilized the world economy. It has provided China's solution and contributed Chinese wisdom, which is of great constructive and guiding significance. These ideas and suggestions were accepted by the international community and incorporated into the joint statement of the G20 special meeting.

Fourth, President Xi 's speech runs through the important concept of a community of shared destiny for mankind and reflects China 's responsibility as a responsible great power. President Xi said that viruses have no borders. The epidemic is our common enemy. It is impossible for any country to stay alone and be independent. Only by strengthening international cooperation in an all-round way can we forge a strong joint force to overcome the epidemic and work together to win this human struggle against major infectious diseases.

Members of the medical team from South China's Hainan Province pose at the Wuhan Tianhe International Airport before leaving on Tuesday. Photo: Cui Meng/GT

China is the main battlefield of the first phase of the fight against the novel coronavirus. The achievements and victories of China's anti-epidemic battle at least explain the following three issues.

The first is the victory of socialism with Chinese characteristics. China has mobilized 1.4 billion people to participate in a people's war against the epidemic. Under the centralized and unified leadership of the Communist Party of China (CPC), President Xi has personally directed and deployed the plan. The advantage of socialism with Chinese characteristics, the spirit of the whole nation in uniting and working together, and the methods of scientific prevention and treatment and precise measures against epidemic diseases are our unique advantages and basic experience in overcoming the epidemic.

Second, President Xi's vision of building a community with a shared destiny for mankind is correct. It has been fully demonstrated in the global fight against the epidemic and has been highly recognized by all countries and international organizations. The epidemic is a global threat, the virus is the common enemy of all mankind, and prevention and control is the common responsibility of all countries. At present, as the fight against the epidemic continues, China has given the material, technical and expert resources within its capacity that is needed to fight the epidemic to nearly 100 countries and international organizations including South Korea, Japan, Iran, Italy, Serbia, Pakistan, and the EU. 

Third, China's fight against the epidemic itself is a positive contribution and great help to the fight against the epidemic in other countries.

First of all, China's victory in its fight against the epidemic has undoubtedly strengthened the confidence of other countries in fighting against the epidemic. This fully demonstrate that the novel coronavirus can be defeated with facts.

Second, China's experience in fighting the epidemic for more than two months is very rich, precious and effective, and many of its experiences can be directly used by other countries. For example, close-off management, strict control of gathering, isolation observation, wearing masks, the establishment of emergency hospitals (Huoshenshan Hospital and Leishenshan Hospital), the makeshift hospital, there are early detection, early report, early isolation, early diagnosis, early treatment, receivable collection, should be treated, and so on. Many countries have already done so now with good results.

The author is former deputy president of Academy of Military Sciences, People's Liberation Army. Opinion@globaltimes.com.cn