Medical workers pose for photos after seeing cured patients off at the Wuchang temporary hospital in Wuhan, Central China's Hubei Province on March 10, 2020. Photo: Xinhua

China's fight against COVID-19 has not only protected Chinese people's lives and health, but also made an important contribution to the international fight against the virus over the past three years, Mi Feng, spokesperson for the National Health Commission (NHC), said at Friday's press briefing held by the State Council joint prevention and control mechanism against COVID-19.

Mi noted that China is ready to continue working with the international community to tackle the pandemic challenge and better protect the health of people around the world.

In the early stages of the outbreak, China adopted strong public health intervention measures, which bought precious time for the international community to fight against the pandemic, said Mi.

China promptly reported the outbreak to the World Health Organization (WHO) and is actively sharing epidemic information. China identified the pathogen and shared the genome sequence of the virus with the world. It released the diagnosis and treatment plan as well as the prevention and control plan promptly, providing a scientific basis for the international community on pandemic prevention and control, vaccination development and testing reagent research, said Mi.

China has also actively carried out international cooperation, providing huge amounts of anti-pandemic supplies to 153 countries and regions and 15 international organizations, according to Mi.

Meanwhile, the country has held more than 300 technical exchange events on pandemic prevention and control and medical treatment with more than 180 countries and regions as well as over 10 international organizations. China sent 37 medical expert teams to 34 countries and regions to share its anti-epidemic experience without reservation, Mi noted.

China was the first country that announced it would make vaccines a global public good, waiving intellectual property rights for COVID-19 vaccines and conducting joint production of vaccines with developing countries. China has supplied more than 2.2 billion doses of vaccines to more than 120 countries and international organizations, Mi said.

China has also given full play to the role of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), with more than 100 video exchanges and live broadcast events held for experts in the fight against COVID-19. The country has introduced TCM diagnosis and treatment protocols to more than 150 countries and regions, and provided TCM products to some countries and regions in need.

Global Times