Join Hands with African Countries to Fight Against Covid-19
心系非洲，携手合作，共同战疫
Remarks by H.E. Ambassador Liu Xiaoming at the Webinar on Fighting Covid-19 in Africa Jointly Hosted by the Chinese Embassy in the UK and the Legatum Institute
刘晓明大使在中国驻英国大使馆与英国列格坦研究所共同主办的非洲抗疫视频座谈会上的讲话
May 13 2020
2020年5月13日
Baroness Stroud,
Minister Mutsvangwa,
Sir Oliver,
Vice Chairman Sha,
Dr. Wu,
Dr. Zhang,
Your Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen:
尊敬的英国列格坦研究所首席执行官斯特劳德女男爵，
尊敬的津巴布韦新闻部长穆茨万格瓦女士，
尊敬的英国列格坦研究所理事莱特文爵士，
尊敬的中国上海市人大常委会沙海林副主任，
尊敬的中国疾控中心流行病首席专家吴尊友研究员，
尊敬的中国复旦大学华山医院张文宏教授，
尊敬的各位非洲驻英国使节，
女士们、先生们：
Welcome to the webinar on fighting Covid-19 in Africa jointly hosted by the Chinese Embassy in the UK and the Legatum Institute. Thanks to modern technology, people from China, the UK and Africa are able to meet on line at this difficult time to share experience and exchange views on fighting the pandemic.
欢迎大家出席中国驻英国大使馆与英国列格坦研究所共同举办的非洲抗疫视频座谈会。疫情虽然使我们不能面对面地交谈，但借助现代科技，我们通过网络平台实现中英非三方连线，共话抗疫，共享经验，共克时艰。我感谢列格坦研究所为筹办本次活动做了精心准备，也很荣幸邀请到来自中国的吴尊友研究员和张文宏教授与大家分享交流抗疫经验。
I would like to express my thanks to the Legatum Institute for your thoughtful preparation for this event. We are glad to have with us Dr. Wu Zunyou and Dr. Zhang Wenhong from China, who will share experience and exchange views on fighting Covid-19. Having served twice in Africa, I feel a special bond to this great continent. I had the honour to attend the handover ceremony of Tazara and to witness the dedication of this historic monument of China-Africa friendship. China and Africa are good friends, good partners and good brothers. We have supported and helped each other over the years. At the height of the challenge from Covid-19 in China, our African brothers assisted us to the best of their capabilities and voiced their firm support for China.
当前，新冠肺炎疫情仍在全球蔓延，非洲疫情防控形势仍很严峻，我们对此感同身受。我曾两度常驻非洲，曾有幸参加了坦赞铁路的交接仪式，亲眼见证了这座中非友谊不朽丰碑，对这片大陆怀有深厚的感情。中非是好朋友、好伙伴、好兄弟。长期以来，双方相互支持、守望相助。
As the pandemic continues ravaging the world, the situation in Africa remains grave. We really feel for our African friends. Now, China has achieved major and strategic success in containing the virus. We are reciprocating African countries’ support and providing assistance to the best of our capability. China has donated medical supplies to the African Union and to all the African countries that have diplomatic relations with China. Chinese medical teams are taking an active part in the battle against Covid-19 in African countries. Experts of the two sides have had frequent exchanges of views on line.
在中国抗击疫情的关键时期，非洲兄弟给予中国力所能及的支持和坚定有力的声援。现在，中国疫情防控阻击战取得重大战略成果，我们正尽己所能向非洲国家提供支持和帮助，向非洲联盟和所有建交非洲国家分批提供了大量抗疫物资援助，中国援非医疗队积极参与所在国家抗疫行动，双方专家开展多次视频交流。
As President Xi Jinping said, mankind belongs to a community with a shared future; in this community, solidarity and cooperation are the most powerful weapons to defeat Covid-19. Going forward, China will continue to provide support to African countries, promote the development of Africa CDC, and enhance cooperation between China and Africa on public health and disease control. Together China and Africa can build a community with a shared future. Both China and the UK are important partners of Africa. Helping Africa in this fight against Covid-19 serves the common interests of all three parties. I suggest that China, the UK and Africa focus on cooperation in the following three aspects:
习近平主席强调，人类是一个休戚与共的命运共同体，团结合作是国际社会战胜疫情最有力的武器。中国将继续向非洲国家提供支持，加快推进非洲疾控中心建设，加强中非公共卫生和疾病防控合作，推动建立更加紧密的中非命运共同体。中国和英国都是非洲的重要伙伴，助非抗疫符合中英非三方共同利益。我期待中英非聚焦三方面合作：
First, we should focus on containing the spread of the virus. This requires us to share experience. China has regarded people’s life as the top priority, based its measures on science, and mobilized all sectors of the society at all levels to join in the prevention and control efforts. These are all valuable experience that China is willing to share with our African friends. It is also important that we enhance exchanges and cooperation on the monitoring of the epidemic, testing methods, clinical treatment, and R&D of vaccine and medicines. This could help us contain the spread of the virus at an early date and erect a strong wall protecting us from the epidemic.
一是聚焦疫情防控，共同遏制疫情蔓延势头。我们要加强抗疫经验分享和交流，中国在全面抗疫中坚持生命至上，坚持向科学要方案，实施联防联控，这些宝贵经验将为非洲抗疫提供重要助力。我们还要开展疫情监测、检验方法、临床救治、疫苗药物研发等交流合作，尽快阻断疫情传播，共同筑牢抗击疫情的坚强防线。
Second, we should tap the potential of cooperation to help Africa enhance its capability of responding to public health issues. We could enhance cooperation by matching China’s experience and the UK’s research capability with Africa’s needs. China and the UK could help African countries train specialized personnel and enhance capacity building in public health and disease prevention and control, so as to strengthen their capabilities of addressing public health issues and warding off risks.
二是聚焦深挖合作潜力，提高非洲公共卫生应对能力。我们要把中国的抗疫经验、英国的科研实力和非洲的合作需求有机结合起来，强化中英非三方卫生合作，加强非洲疾病防控和公共卫生人员培训，增加卫生能力建设，提高对突发公共卫生事件的应对和抗风险能力。
Third, we should improve global governance on public health and safeguard fairness and justice in the world. We should build up consensus and support the WHO in playing an important role in the global response to the pandemic. We should respect African wishes, listen to African voices and support African initiatives in international public health affairs. This is the moment for all of us to join hands to build a community of public health for mankind. Now, we have come to a critical juncture in this battle against Covid-19. It is absolutely important that the international community work together, rather than blame each other, save lives, rather than engage in a smear and scapegoating campaign, and uphold fairness and justice in the world, rather than politicize the public health issue and stigmatize other countries.
三是聚焦促进全球公共卫生治理，维护国际公平正义。我们要进一步凝聚共识，支持世界卫生组织在全球抗疫合作中发挥重要作用，在国际卫生事务中尊重非洲意愿、倾听非洲声音、支持非洲倡议，携手打造人类卫生健康共同体。在这抗疫的关键时刻，国际社会要携手合作，不要相互指责；要呵护生命，不要抹黑“甩锅”；要维护国际公平正义，不要借疫情搞政治化、污名化。
Nelson Mandela said, “When people are determined, they can overcome anything.” There is a similar saying in China, which goes, “When people are united, they can move mountains.” I am confident that we will claim final victory over the virus and we will emerge with deeper China-Africa friendship and closer China-UK cooperation. Let’s join hands to write a historic chapter of mankind coming together against Covid-19 and building a community with a shared future in the 21st century!
曼德拉先生有句名言：“只要下定决心，就能战胜任何困难”（When people are determined, they can overcome anything）。中国也有句谚语：“人心齐，泰山移”。我坚信，疫情终将过去，中非友谊必将历久弥坚，中英合作也将日益深入。让我们携起手来，共同书写21世纪并肩战疫、共建人类命运共同体的历史篇章！
Thank you!
谢谢大家。