Chinese Premier Li Keqiang on Saturday met Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), who was on a visit to Beijing and attended the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympic Winter Games. During the meeting, Li stressed the importance of solidarity and cooperation by the international community to fight the COVID-19 pandemic.

During the meeting, Li welcomed Tedros for attending the opening ceremony of the Winter Games and appreciated the WHO’s support for the Games, the Xinhua News Agency reported.

Facing the pandemic that is still ravaging the world today, the international community should uphold solidarity and cooperation, look out for one another, and have more understanding and tolerance, Li said. 

The Chinese government will continue to support the WHO to play a more important role in fighting the pandemic and safeguarding human health, said the Chinese premier.

Vaccines are global public goods, and the promotion of their accessibility and affordability is important in building the immunologic barrier, Li said, noting that effective drugs should be developed at the same time by taking advantages of technological means, so the novel coronavirus – a common enemy of mankind – could be defeated as soon as possible.

Li also pointed out that while taking effective measures to prevent and control the pandemic, efforts must be made to realize sustainable economic and social development, promote cross-border trade facilitation, ensure the safety and openness of industrial and supply chains, and promote the steady and solid process of global economic recovery.

China is willing to maintain close and friendly cooperation with the WHO, Li said.

Tedros congratulated China on hosting the Winter Games and said that the WHO highly appreciates the efforts made by the Chinese government and the Chinese people in fighting the pandemic.

The WHO is willing to continue to cooperate with China in promoting the accessibility and affordability of vaccines, boosting vaccination rates in order to defeat the pandemic quickly, Tedros said, noting that the WHO adheres to the principle of science in tracing the origins of the virus and opposes politicization of the process.
 
Global Times