Editor's note: Freddie Reidy is a freelance writer based in London. He studied history and history of art at the University of Kent, Canterbury, specializing in Russian history and international politics. The article reflects the author's opinions and not necessarily the views of CGTN.

Over a year on from the initial outbreak of COVID-19, the global picture is beginning to improve. Multiple vaccines now offer a pathway out of the pandemic. With reason for cautious optimism, nations around the world are looking at plans for economic recovery in the post-pandemic era.

However, as the focus shifts from containment to recovery in the coming months, the full extent of the bifurcation of experience between East and West, rich and poor will begin to become evident.

Conducted at the height of the pandemic in 2020, a BBC-commissioned GlobeScan survey of 27 nations raised serious doubts over the veracity of the prevailing rhetorical themes surrounding the pandemic.

Chris Coulter, chief executive of Globescan told the BBC, "One of the central narratives of this pandemic has been that 'we are all in this together.'"

"Our poll finds that the opposite is true. Across different countries and within most countries, results show that those who are most systemically disadvantaged have been hit the hardest."

Today, the schism between Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) nations, the top 37 most economically developed nations, and non-members is exposed by vaccine nationalism.

The Joe Biden administration may have committed billions of dollars to the World Health Organization's COVAX initiative, but such a contribution is made while the U.S. stockpiles many more millions of doses of vaccines than required to vaccinate the entire U.S. population.

This is true across many other wealthy nations. A report by the Economist Intelligence Unit found that of the 12.5 billion vaccine doses pledged to be produced in 2021, 6.4 billion have already been purchased, predominantly by wealthy nations.

Poorer nations are nearly entirely reliant on COVAX despite the program only promising to provide enough for 20 percent of a nation's population.

Many world leaders may well call for greater provision of vaccines for the developing world, as French President, Emmanuel Macron has, but the motivation of his call appears to rely on political considerations more than it does on a genuine concern.

Speaking to the Financial Times last month, Macron claimed: "It's not about vaccine diplomacy, it's not a power game."

Before apparently contradicting himself: "It's an unprecedented acceleration of global inequality and it's politically unsustainable too because it's paving the way for a war of influence over vaccines."

Indeed, the wider European Union has demonstrated the fragility of globalization throughout the pandemic. Unilateral border closures and personal protective equipment export bans to Italy at the start of the pandemic live long in the memory.

While facing criticism of its practices, European Council President, Charles Michel, sparked outrage by falsely claiming the UK has an export ban on vaccines while taking aim at China, "We should not let ourselves be misled by China and Russia, both regimes with less desirable values than ours, as they organize highly limited but widely publicized operations to supply vaccines to others."

In fact, in a testament to leadership and as an exemplar of globalization, China has developed several vaccines and has pledged nearly half a billion doses to 45 countries.

At the Two Sessions, where Chinese Premier Li Keqiang laid out the annual work report of the government, it is apparent that, unlike many nations struggling with the pandemic, China has continued to thrive. Major increases in urban employment, producer price index and the eradication of extreme poverty are the hallmarks of success.

Successful management of the coronavirus has facilitated a robust economy where other nations have faltered. These successes allow China to provide essential investment, vaccine production and trade, essential for growth and recovery.

A massive contraction in tourism, reductions in foreign aid and weakened labor demand pose severe risks to poorer nations, low vaccine availability only compounds the predicament and inequity.

OECD nations may have sufficient capital reserves to weather the storm, but the economic contraction will be harder to recover from in non-member states and consequently, these states will need partners like China.

To live up to the prevailing narrative of universal experience, the international community needs to embrace globalization once again as a vehicle for collective recovery.

Resisting protectionist urges will not only accelerate recovery but serve as a blueprint for future global challenges such as climate change.

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