China Aid of Sinovac. (PHOTO:XINHUA)

Chinese President Xi Jinping delivered a special address to the 2022 World Economic Forum virtual session on January 17, calling on the world to do everything necessary to clear the shadow of the pandemic and boost economic and social recovery and development.

How to beat the pandemic and how to build the post-COVID world are major issues of common concern to people around the world. They are also major, urgent questions that must be answered, Xi said, noting that countries all over the world need to foster new opportunities amidst crises, open up new horizons on a shifting landscape, and pool great strength to  go  through  difficulties  and  challenges.

President Xi then made several proposals. First, the world should embrace cooperation and jointly defeat the pandemic. Thanks to the concerted efforts of the international community, major progress has been made in the global fight against the pandemic. Countries need to strengthen international cooperation against COVID-19. Of particular importance is to fully leverage vaccines as a powerful weapon, ensure their equitable distribution, quicken vaccination and close the global immunization gap, so as to truly safeguard people's lives, health and livelihoods.

China has already sent over two billion doses of vaccines to more than 120 countries and international organizations. Still, China will provide another one billion doses to African countries, including 600 million doses as donation, and will also donate 150 million doses to ASEAN countries.

Second, the international community needs to resolve various risks and promote steady recovery of the world economy. Economic globalization is the trend of the times. We should seek integration, not decoupling.

The world should make generally acceptable and effective rules for artificial intelligence and digital economy on the basis of full consultation, and create an open, just and non-discriminatory environment for scientific and technological innovation.

Third, the international community needs to bridge the development divide and revitalize global development. China stands ready to work with all partners to jointly translate the Global Development Initiative into concrete actions and make sure that no country is left behind in this process.

Fourth, the international community should discard Cold War mentality and seek peaceful coexistence and win-win outcomes. Different countries and civilizations may prosper together on the basis of respect for each other, and seek common ground and win-win outcomes by setting aside differences.

Xi also said that China will pursue high-quality development, and reform and opening-up, while staying committed to promoting ecological conservation.  

The Chinese economy enjoys a good momentum overall, Xi said. Shifts in the domestic and international economic environment have brought tremendous pressure, but the fundamentals of the Chinese economy, characterized by strong resilience, enormous potential and long-term sustainability, remain unchanged, said he , adding that China's development gains will benefit all its people in a more substantial and equitable way.

Xi pointed out that China will continue to expand high-standard opening-up, steadily advance institutional opening-up that covers rules, management and standards, deliver national treatment for foreign businesses, and promote high-quality Belt and Road cooperation. With the entry into force of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (RCEP) on 1 January this year, China will faithfully fulfill its obligations and deepen economic and trade ties with other RCEP parties. China will also continue to work for the joining of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) and the Digital Economy Partnership Agreement (DEPA), with a view to further integrating into the regional and global economy and achieving mutual benefit and win-win results.

President Xi also spoke of achieving carbon peak and carbon neutrality which are the intrinsic requirements of China's own high-quality development and a solemn pledge to the international community. China will honor its word and keep working toward its goal, said he, adding that China will also actively engage in international cooperation on climate and jointly work for a complete transition to a greener economy and society.

Source: XINHUA