Editor's note: The following article is taken from the Chinese-language opinion column "The Real Point."

When the world faced a financial meltdown in 2008, G20 leaders reached a consensus on pressing issues to tackle the crisis. A series of stimulus policies adopted by the Chinese government became the main force to drive the world economy out of the gloom. Twelve years later, China is again doing its utmost to help lead the world out of another crisis – the COVID-19 pandemic.

China's President Xi Jinping has provided a Chinese solution to the global response to the pandemic. The proposals and commitments he made on Thursday when addressing a special video summit of the Group of 20 to coordinate multilateral response to the pandemic will boost global confidence and inject more motivation into the global effort to combat the coronavirus.

As the first country to experience the outbreak and bring the epidemic under control, China has made tremendous sacrifices to contain the virus and provided lessons to other countries. President Xi called on countries to move swiftly to stem the spread of the virus. Feasible measures include a G20 health ministers' meeting to be convened as early as possible to improve information sharing, strengthened cooperation on drugs, vaccines and epidemic control, and cutting cross-border infections. Xi also suggested that a G20 COVID-19 assistance initiative be implemented with the support of the World Health Organization for better information sharing, as well as improved policy and action coordination.

The International Monetary Fund has warned the pandemic could deal a bigger blow to the world economy than the 2008 financial crisis did. To counter the negative effect, Xi Jinping called on all G20 members to leverage and coordinate their macro policies by cutting tariffs, removing barriers, and facilitating the unfettered flow of trade. "What China will do in this regard is to increase its supply of active pharmaceutical ingredients, daily necessities, and anti-epidemic and other supplies to the international market," said Xi, adding that China will continue to advance reform and opening-up, and contribute to a stable world economy.

Chairman of Britain's 48 Group Club Stephen Perry praised China's concept of a community of shared future for mankind with its actions. He noted that such a cooperative and open attitude is also the direction that countries should adhere to in addressing global issues in the future.

The virus is the common enemy of mankind. No country can survive alone. The international community needs unity and cooperation more than ever before. There is no place for stigmatization in this battle. As many people in the world have pointed out, at this critical moment, the idea of building ​​a community of shared future for mankind has never been so realistic and urgent.

Representing major developed and emerging economies, the G20 countries must show leadership and determination, and put into effect the consensus reached at the summit so that the world may overcome the pandemic as soon as possible.

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