Extended BRI Health Partnership

The Asia and Pacific High-Level Conference on Belt and Road Cooperation showed unity and solidarity among partner countries in dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic and restoring regional economies during and after the pandemic.

Analytics 15:30 24.06.2021

China the “champion” of pure “humanity” and “pioneer” of vaccine diplomacy has been helping the developing countries, weaker communities, marginalized groups, fragile civil society, NGOs and numerous organizations battling against the deadly pandemic of COVID-19 since its outburst.

Now China is rated as real “savior” of struggling humanity in the world in which visionary president Xi Jiping philosophies of “shared prosperity”, equitable and equal world have played an important role.

Most recently the State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi presided over the High level video conference on Belt and Road International Cooperation in the Asia-Pacific which vividly reflected Chinese superior state policies of services and integrated mechanism of human survival.

On this occasion, Chinese President Xi Jinping highlighted Chinese willingness to work with all parties to build a closer "Belt and Road" partnership. He showcased the purpose of proposing the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) to inherit the Silk Road spirit jointly build an open cooperation platform and provide new impetus for the cooperation and development of all countries.

Chinese president hailed the pragmatic progress of the BRI which have actively enhanced connectivity in policy, infrastructure, trade, finance and people-to-people ties. He said a partnership for all-dimensional and composite connectivity has been set up, which opened up new prospects for common development.

Chinese president Xi highlighted holistic policies of China which has been supporting and assisting each other in the most difficult times and pushed forward the construction of the BRI, conveying confidence and strength to the international community and making an important contribution to global cooperation against the pandemic and economic recovery since the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic.

The Chinese president reiterated that the joint pursuit of the BRI should follow the principles of extensive consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits, pursue open, green and clean cooperation, as well as pursuing high-standard cooperation to improve people's lives and promote sustainable development.

The conference focused on COVID-19 prevention and control cooperation in the region and the region's economic recovery. It provided a platform for the representatives of more than 30 countries and international organizations to pool their wisdom in addressing the challenges the region faces.

It hopes that the quality of Belt and Road cooperation projects will be higher in the future, and although infrastructure constructions remain crucial, more attention will be paid to strengthen public health collaboration and ensure the reliability and security of supply chains, and enhance cooperation in innovation, technology and green development.

It has further strengthened its regional as well as global stature being a staunch supporter of better and healthier world. It showcased its holistic approach towards the help of struggling people combating against COVID-19 around the globe. It also highlighted its multiculturalism global drive by promoting global cooperation by negating all sorts of propaganda and discriminatory policies.  

The noble initiative received immense response from the other participants in the conference reflecting regional unity and harmony and desire to get their socioeconomic development back on the right track at an early date, build more responsive and efficient public health systems, and develop new growth engines through international cooperation.

During which spirits of global solidarity and cooperation was recognized as the most important and effective tools for defeating the COVID-19 pandemic. It upheld the importance of Chinese holistic strategy of humanity, sharing & caring projecting that “No one can be safe until everyone is safe”.

For the time immortal Since China has always been firmly believed in equitable and equal world so it has now stressed the need to have equitable distribution system/mechanism of vaccines.    

Unlike the Build Back Better World (B3W) initiative the US proposed at the G7 Summit earlier this month, the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) starts from the practical needs of the participants rather than any single country's geopolitical ambitions. Functioning on the basis of joint construction, collective consultation and benefit sharing, instead of one participant telling the others what to do, it produces tangible benefits for the people.

Furthermore, in accordance with the true spirits and resolutions of the United Nation General Assembly, the World Health Assembly and last but not least, political declaration of equitable global access to COVID-19 Vaccines  being a responsible country of the world, China called open, fair, free and non-discriminatory international cooperation on vaccines.

In this context, the noble Initiative for Belt and Road Partnership on COVID-19 Vaccines Cooperation commended the efforts and cooperation of the United Nations system and the World Health Organization on COVID-19 vaccines.

It urged all the BRI partners to disseminate the real essence of this grand initiative which should also be replicated in all the member countries. It reflects the common will of the people in the region working together for a better world that enables the Belt and Road Initiative to stand the tests of such grave challenges as the COVID-19 pandemic, and continuously demonstrate robust vitality and strong adaptability.

It was wisely advised that further strengthening of communicative and coordinative system on vaccines regulatory policies would enhance and ensure the safety and efficacy of vaccines.

It stressed the need to have more and more production of vaccines and called on vaccines producing countries to support their companies for the capacity building sphere enabling massive production of vaccines to Access (COVAX) facility of the WHO.

To promote spirits of donation or affordable exports COVID-19 vaccines to developing countries it encouraged the joint collaboration between the governments and private sectors/ vaccines companies throughout the world.

It upheld the importance of joint vaccine research, technological exchange and encouraged vaccine companies to transfer technologies to developing countries.

It pinpointed that wavier of intellectual property rights (IPRs) must for massive production and easy and smooth supplies of COVID-19 vaccines in which World Trade Organization (WTO) should follow a holistic approach of accommodation.

For the scaling up of global production, it encouraged universal collaboration between global vaccine producers and partners from developing countries. 

It considered provision of concessional financing of regional as well as multilateral development banks to developing countries for the production as well as procurement of COVID-19 vaccines with complete free right of selection of vaccines.

It further called upon all the member countries of the BRI to strengthen the operationalization and channelization of easy and smooth flows of vaccines and raw, auxiliary materials and manufacturing equipment. It desired to have more and more partners in the most recently launched Initiative for Belt and Road Partnership on COVID-19 Vaccines Cooperation.  

Being prominent regional expert of China, BRI and CPEC I really appreciate the BRI development concept in which so far 140 countries and 32 international organizations have been engaged which highlights the great significance attached to it. With plentiful substantial achievements having been made since it was proposed in 2013, the initiative has provided the world with many global public products that manifest practical progress toward the realization of the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals.

It is a development oriented mega project of the 21th century which has prompted countries to work together to protect public health and promote common development. It has been providing essential medical supplies through mutual assistance programs and intensive exchanges on epidemic prevention and control work, and macro policy coordination which demonstrate the vitality of the BRI, which is an open and inclusive multilateral platform.

The conference provides an ample opportunity for the participants to discuss ways to collectively fight the pandemic and to restore regional economies. Acceleration of the vaccination process is urgently needed to achieve the herd immunity, so the socio-economic development and infrastructure investments will continue without any hindrance.

On its part, China will continue to play a core role in providing vaccines, economic assistance, infrastructure development, connectivity, and technical know-how to both the Asia-Pacific region and the BRI countries.

The Asia and Pacific High-Level Conference on Belt and Road Cooperation showed unity and solidarity among partner countries in dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic and restoring regional economies during and after the pandemic. I submit that collective efforts, actions and measures should be initiated as soon as possible to effectively fight against this pandemic and to achieve socio-economic recovery as well as enhance partnership for sustainable and inclusive development.

It provides historic opportunity for participating BRI countries to strengthen inclusive multilateralism and enhanced partnership in an endeavor to jointly defeat these transnational health issues. It also demonstrates unity, shared political commitment and shared responsibility to tackle this global health crisis.

To conclude, it is recommended that common interests and aspirations should be institutionalized for building the community having a shared future and plan to overcome on the critical issues pertaining to humanity and human survival with joint solutions and cooperation.

This article was written by Mehmood Ul Hassan Khan, a professional researcher and expert on the region studies, especially the Middle East, Caucasus, Central Asia, Afghanistan and Eastern Asia. 

IEPF issued a statement regarding Azerbaijani children at the UN Human Rights Council

News line

Spain voices concern over Iran's suspension of cooperation with UN nuclear watchdog
23:35 03.07.2025
Pope Leo can play important role in improving US-North Korea ties, says Cardinal Lazzaro You
23:00 03.07.2025
UN rapporteur on occupied Palestinian territory says accountability needed over killings of aid-seekers in Gaza
22:35 03.07.2025
Gaza ceasefire proposal calls for release of 10 Israeli hostages, includes US assurances to end war Report
22:00 03.07.2025
Australian man dies from 'extremely rare' bat bite virus
21:30 03.07.2025
Armenia restarts constitutional reform talks
21:15 03.07.2025
Azerbaijani wrestler crowned European champion
21:00 03.07.2025
Azerbaijani boxer qualifies for World Cup semifinals
20:30 03.07.2025
Liverpool rejects Bayern Munich's approach for Diaz
20:00 03.07.2025
President Ilham Aliyev inspected site designated for Khankandi-Shusha cable car construction
19:35 03.07.2025
Presidents of Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan review operations of Businesstex JV sewing factory in Khankandi
19:20 03.07.2025
Deputy Prime Minister of Afghanistan to attend 17th ECO Summit in Khankendi
19:15 03.07.2025
Pakistani Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif begins visit to Azerbaijan
19:00 03.07.2025
Cyberattacks on Azerbaijani state bodies slightly rising
18:45 03.07.2025
Height of the Victory Arch in Khankandi to be 44 meters
18:15 03.07.2025
Nigerian minister to attend 17th ECO Summit in Khankandi
18:00 03.07.2025
President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev arrives in Fuzuli district
17:45 03.07.2025
Opening ceremony of Khankandi Congress Center held
17:30 03.07.2025
China ready to sign nuclear-weapon-free zone treaty
17:15 03.07.2025
President of Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus arrives in Fuzuli district
17:00 03.07.2025
President Ilham Aliyev attends opening of Khankandi Business Center
16:45 03.07.2025
Turkish president to visit Khankandi on July 4
16:30 03.07.2025
Iran calls negotiations with European countries 'meaningless'
16:15 03.07.2025
President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev receives Deputy Chairman of Turkmenistan’s Cabinet of Ministers in Khankandi
16:00 03.07.2025
Scorching European heatwave turns deadly in Spain, Italy and France
15:45 03.07.2025
National Defense University hosts training as part of NATO programme
15:30 03.07.2025
3 killed, 16 injured in mass shooting at Chicago nightclub
15:20 03.07.2025
China is not US, and challenges to Europe won’t come from Beijing: Top diplomat
15:15 03.07.2025
Russia restricts access to Azerbaijani news websites
15:00 03.07.2025
2 killed, 11 injured in Russian strikes in Ukraine's Poltava
14:45 03.07.2025
Trump may arm Israel with US B-2s, bunker busters
14:30 03.07.2025
Foundation stone laid for Khankandi Railway and Bus Terminal Complex
14:20 03.07.2025
Baku, Kabul mull development of Lapis Lazuli corridor
14:15 03.07.2025
Azerbaijani deputy FM mulls areas of cooperation with Afghan counterpart
14:00 03.07.2025
Israeli president receives new ambassador to Azerbaijan
13:50 03.07.2025
5US lifts chip software curbs on China amid trade truce
13:45 03.07.2025
Tajikistan and Saudi Fund for Development set to expand project financing
13:30 03.07.2025
S. Korean President vows to improve relations with N. Korea based on cooperation with US
13:10 03.07.2025
Politico: Ukraine expects Europe to buy weapons for it from US
13:00 03.07.2025
State Department: Bringing Russia-Ukraine war to end remains Trump's priority
12:45 03.07.2025
Hamısı