#China's leader, Gen Sec Xi will speak at the meeting of the World Health Assembly (WHA) - the decision making body of the WHO - via video link. The meeting has just started. This same meeting will receive a resolution calling for an inquiry into the origins of the #coronavirus.
Xi speaking now: who.int/about/governan…
That was a pretty significant speech from Xi Jinping: pledging $2 billion US dollars for #coronavirus recovery in developing countries; #China to set up a global hub for humanitarian response in #covid19 situations; #China hospitals pairing with 30 #African countries cont...
He said #China would develop a #coronavirus vaccine "for the global public good"; said #China supports a comprehensive review of the world's #covid19 response (led by WHO) after the emergency under control to identify deficiencies. cont...
Xi Jinping called for greater global financial and political support for the WHO; he said the world's #coronavirus response must place people first with an emphasis on treatment, tracing, quarantine, detection and guarding against cross-border transmission. cont...
#China's leader said he "mourns for every life lost" due to #covid19; that "the international community has not flinched" in terms of the "global co-operation" we have seen in taking on the #coronavirus. cont...
Xi said that "in #China, with great sacrifice, we have turned the tide of the virus". He said #China had been "open and transparent... releasing the #coronavirus genome sequence at the earliest possible time". cont...
In terms of the message, the contrast could not be greater from that of say the #US President. There was an emphasis on multilateralism, support for the WHO, a call for international solidarity etc.
We've hardly heard from #China's leader throughout the #coronavirus emergency and his speeches can be really boring at times but this one will make news round the world calling for a scientific approach, global cooperation, learning from mistakes for a better future response etc.
BTW can’t believe I having to point this out to adults on Twitter as if this was a high school social studies class but... I’m clearly neither saying Xi is to be believed nor dismissed. He’s one of the 2 most powerful people in the world and says stuff so we report it.
In terms of his different #coronavirus approach to Trump, different rhetoric, different stated priorities that’s just a fact.
Unless I’m missing something Xi Jinping didn’t seem to agree to the same #coronavirus inquiry #Australia and others are calling for. He didn’t endorse an inquiry into the virus origins. He said he wants a thorough examination of the global response so it’s better in the future.
Maybe I’m splitting hairs and such an inquiry would have to also examine the origins of the #coronavirus? Xi Jinping did say the inquiry to be done, after the emergency has finished, should be led by the WHO and based on science but his emphasis was improving future responses.
