Stay united and seize this second window of opportunity to tackle the pandemic

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

"The pandemic has also brought examples of international solidarity, with the sharing of resources, information, and expertise from countries further ahead in the epidemic, or with better results in controlling the spread," stated an editorial published by The Lancet over the weekend.

Highlighting the importance of unity and collaboration in handling the COVID-19 pandemic, the article emphasized that the international community must work together to avoid mistakes in countries with fragile health care systems.

As the virus spreads throughout the world, no country can survive alone. Harmony and cooperation are needed now more than ever, which was a consensus reached during the G20 special video summit held last week. The G20 leaders agreed to take all necessary health measures and seek to ensure adequate financing to contain the pandemic and protect people, especially the most vulnerable.

Sharing information in a timely and transparent manner as well as measures expanding manufacturing capacity to meet the increasing demand for medical supplies, will help the international community seize a second window of opportunity – as described by World Health Organization Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus days ago – created by countries introducing "lockdown" measures to fight the pandemic.

In a phone call with Chinese President Xi Jinping after the G20 special summit, U.S. President Donald Trump promised to make a personal effort to ensure that the two countries can ward off distractions and concentrate on COVID-19. As the world's two leading economies, their cooperation in fighting the disease will not only benefit the United States in epidemic prevention and control, but also help safeguard global public health security.

Since bringing its domestic epidemic under control, China has been actively helping others to fight the virus, aiding at least 89 nations and four international organizations. This will also benefit China itself, since it is at a critical stage of preventing cases imported from overseas and a resurgence of infections.

In the face of an epidemic, nations around the world have been given a better understanding of a community of shared future for mankind. Faced by a common enemy, mankind must stay united in its fight against the pandemic.

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