Leaders of world political parties warned that if the COVID-19 is not effectively and promptly contained, it will exert a severe impact on the economic and social development of most countries as well as inflict even greater harm to the lives, safety and health of many more people.
They urged all countries to put the lives, safety and health of the people above everything else and take resolute and forceful measures to put an end to the spread of COVID-19.
They also urged all countries, while devoting efforts to epidemic control, to adopt an integrated approach to ensure economic and social development, take targeted measures to protect vulnerable groups and the SMEs, and honour their commitment to people’s living standards and social progress.
Seeking closer international cooperation against Covid-19, world political parties including Communist Party of China made the appeal in a joint statement issued on Friday, according to a message received from former industries minister Dilip Barua, Secretary General of Bangladesh Sammabadi Dal and chairperson of Bangladesh-China Silk Road Forum.
The ongoing COVID-19 outbreak constitutes the most urgent and serious challenge to both the health of the humanity and world peace and development as it is spreading rapidly across the globe, they said.
To fight this unprecedented crisis by containing the outbreak, the countries across the globe need to strengthen the sharing of experience and medical cooperation, including joint research and development of specific medicines, vaccines and tests.
To face this unprecedented situation, major political parties of various countries tasked with the weighty responsibility of improving people’s wellbeing, promoting national development and safeguarding world peace and stability issued the joint appeal.
Welcoming the Extraordinary G20 Leaders' Summit statement on COVID-19, the world leaders support called on the provision of material, technical and other support to developing countries and countries with vulnerable public health systems.
“We pay our loftiest tribute to all the people, health workers in particular, who devote themselves to saving lives and protecting people’s health. We extend our heartfelt sympathies and solicitude to those who are suffering from pain and whose lives are under the threat of COVID-19 as well as the bereaved families of those deceased. We also express our deep mourning for the unfortunate loss of lives in the outbreak,” the statement read.
World political leaders support countries to put in place contingency plans and strategies for combating COVID-19 in light of their specific national conditions and to strengthen cooperation, with equal emphasis on containing the further spread and on patient treatment.
Calling on the general public of all countries to comply with prevention and mitigation measures with a due sense of social responsibility they encouraged countries to fully leverage the strength of civil society organisations and volunteers with a view to unleashing the power of all social sectors to combat COVID-19.
They also urged all countries, while devoting efforts to epidemic control, to adopt an integrated approach to ensure economic and social development, take targeted measures to protect vulnerable groups and the SMEs, and honour their commitment to people’s living standards and social progress.
They also called on all countries to step up international coordination of macroeconomic policies to maintain stability of global financial market as well as that of industrial and supply chains, and to reduce or exempt tariffs for trade facilitation so as to prevent world economic recession.
Countries are also encouraged to maintain an appropriate level of international exchanges, in particular to facilitate the cross-border transportation of urgently needed medical equipment and protective materials for the fight against COVID-19.
Since the virus respects no borders, and no country can respond to the challenges alone in the face of the outbreak, they said the countries must enhance their consciousness of a community with a shared future for mankind, proactively rendering mutual help and support to one another as the situation becomes more difficult. Closer international cooperation, coordinated policies, concerted actions, and mobilisation of resources and forces globally will enable us to defeat this virus, a common enemy to all of humanity.
“The significant progress in the fight against COVID-19 in China and some other countries has bought time and offered experience to the rest of the international community. We highly commend countries including China for adopting an open, transparent and responsible attitude to disclosing related information in a timely fashion, sharing experience on response and patient treatment, and in particular providing medical and other supplies to the best of their ability to other affected countries. These represent a major contribution to the global fight against COVID-19, boosting the hope and confidence of countries that they can win this battle.
“We call for science-based professional discussions on issues like prevention measures and the origin of the virus and strongly oppose the politicisation of public health issues and the stigmatisation of other countries under the excuse of COVID-19. We stand firmly against all discriminatory comments and practices against any country, region or ethnic group, and call on governments of all countries to take proactive measures to protect the health, safety and legitimate interests of foreign nationals and students they host,” the statement added.
