Source: Silk Road Cities Alliance
On November 7, the "2020 Silk Road Health Forum" was successfully held in Shanghai as an important supporting project of the China International Import Expo. Mr. Zhao Qizheng, former director of the State Council Information Office, Mr. Zhang Wenkang, former Chinese Minister of Health, Mr. Kong Quan, Deputy director of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the CPPCC National Committee, Mr. Shen Guofang, Executive president of China Foundation for International Studies, H.E.Mr. YM Raja Dato' Nushirwan Zainal Abidin, Ambassador of Malaysia to China, H.E.Mr. Archil Kalandia, Ambassador of Georgia to China, H.E.Mr. Carlos Humberto Larrea Dávila, Ambassador of Ecuador to China, Mr. Ivan Kandijas, Charge d'Affaires of Serbia to China, Consul Generals of Chile, Iran, Sri Lanka, Ecuador and Malaysia in Shanghai, and nearly 200 guests gathered together to share the experience of global public health governance, to conduct in-depth discussions and introduce new products to promote the construction of a community of human health with a shared future.
Based on the comprehensive survey in the allocation and circulation of international anti-epidemic materials since the outbreak, there are significant structural problems, such as the asymmetry of supply and demand information, different standards, complicated customs procedure and quality inspection, poor logistics system, etc. The organizer is determined to rely on extensive domestic and international cross-boarder resources, and work with Chinese and foreign partners to build the Global Health Link (GHL). The platform consists of five pillars of "Supplier-Procurement-Quality Assurance-Customs-International Logistics", to achieve precise docking and constitute a complete and sustainable system.
Hon. Massimo D'Alema, Former Prime Minister of Italy, and Honorary President of SRCA, said in his video, “the initiative GHL is so important, it is a matter of promoting a courageous programme of cooperation in the fundamental field of the protection of people's health; it is a matter of exchanging experiences and knowledge accumulated during the pandemic; it is a matter of ensuring the circulation of new technologies, new products and new treatments. I believe that in this direction it is essential to strengthen the role of the World Health Organization, but also to promote exchange and direct cooperation between single countries, in particular, within the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative, that is, the new Silk Road.”
Hon. Jean-Pierre Raffarin, Former Prime Minister of France, expressed his high respect to the great initiative of the Silk Road Health Forum and Global Health Link. He said that in the face of COVID 19, almost every country was in its own right, but the virus knew no borders. It spread everywhere unscrupulously. Therefore, it is necessary to strengthen international cooperation, and choose this kind of partnership. Promoting Silk Road cooperation is a very good decision, which is a very good model of opening up. We must strengthen communication and exchanges, discussion and sharing. Good vaccines and anti-epidemic products should be available to everyone worldwide.
H.E. YM Raja Dato' Nushirwan Zainal Abidin, the Ambassador of Malaysia to China delivered a speech highly affirming the launch of the GHL. He said that the "Belt and Road" initiative aimed at improving the quality of human physical interaction and movement. It is not only about the construction of roads, highways and railway lines, which often called “hard infrastructure” alone. It is equally about “soft infrastructure” including regulations, standards, practices as well the culture of interaction. Soft infrastructure will profoundly change in light of covid-19, with greater emphasis on public health. He believed that the time would soon come to have an international understanding on common standards and health protocols. It is encouraging that many countries such as Malaysia and China to work closely together on the basis of science and the goodwill of humanity to build a “healthy community of human destiny”.
H.E. Mr. Carlos Humberto Larrea Dávila, Ambassador of Ecuador to China, said that a deep friendship and a prosperous business cooperation have allowed bilateral relations between Ecuador and China to be successful and the best in history today. Ecuador took part of the "Belt and Road" initiative since 2018. This great project of China's economic diplomacy will undoubtedly adjust appropriately to the new regional integration initiatives in Latin America, such as PROSUR, the Pacific Alliance and others. Furthermore, Ecuador has recently become the first Latin American member of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank. After the outbreak of the COVID-19, Ecuador and China carried out effective anti-epidemic cooperation. On June 16 this year, the leaders of two countries had an important telephone conversation. President Xi confirmed that he will continue to firmly support Ecuador in the battle against Covid-19, will do his best to provide the necessary assistance, and will explore cooperation in areas such as research and production of vaccines and medicines. Mr. Dávila said, "Success in the face of this epidemic will depend on a rigorous exercise of global co-responsibility in unconditional respect for the values of peace and cooperation."
Mr. Ivan Kandijas, Charge d'Affaires of Serbia to China, delivered a speech.
The phenomene of COVID 19 affecting all countries. In Serbia as in practically in all Europe there is a new wave of pandemic. We are very disposed to cooperate with all countries in the world and especially under the framework of the World Health Organisation to fight together the corona virus and bring with common efforts the optimal solutions in this battle.
China has donated medical equipment and protections means and ensure on optimal prices the sold of the resoirators. This equipment was not only have been donated by the Chinese State but also by the companies and Chinese citizens. China has sent the assistance to the Serbia in a view of respirators and tests, masks and other protections materials. Serbia is greatfull for this donations.
Mr. Edward, CEO of London Healthcare Holding Group sent a video speech. He said that at the time of the global pandemic, the supply of high-quality medical products was very important. We were very fortunate to cooperate with Silk Road Cities Alliance and GHL to jointly provide the world with timely, smooth and economical medical products supply services.
(Media interview with Mr. Archil Kalandia)
(Media interview with YM Raja Dato' Nushirwan Zainal Abidin)
(Media interview with Mr. Ivan Kandijas)
The forum received extensive media attention, including People's Daily, CCTV, CRI Online, Shanghai Observer, International Financial News, Dragon TV.
As an international exchange platform focusing on health cooperation, the 2020 Shanghai Silk Road Health Forum is initiated by the Silk Road Cities Alliance, jointly organized by the Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center, China Reform Health Management and Services Group Co., Ltd., and Fudan Institute of Belt and Road & Global Governance. It brings together global cross-field leaders to have systematic and in-depth discussions, which innovates cooperation mechanisms, and contributes to the development of a healthy Silk Road and the community with a shared future.
