A technician tests a ventilator at a research and development center of Jiangsu Yuyue Medical Equipment & Supply Co., Ltd. in Danyang, east China's Jiangsu Province, April 2, 2020. (Xinhua/Lin Kai)
China is making every effort to support the global fight against the pandemic and has set up a green channel to ensure the fast and convenient delivery of anti-epidemic supplies, said Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi.
BEIJING, April 8 (Xinhua) -- China and Switzerland should work together to keep the global industrial and supply chains stable amid the global fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Tuesday in a phone call with his Swiss counterpart, Ignazio Cassis.
Wang said that through the arduous efforts made by the Chinese people, China has generally brought the domestic epidemic under control, but still faces the risk of the outbreak rebounding, especially the challenges posed by the imported cases.
This fully demonstrates that the pandemic knows no borders or races, and that all countries, which belong to the same community with a shared future for mankind, should work together to overcome the difficulties, he added.
Wang said that the Swiss government and people have provided valuable support for China in its fight against the epidemic.
Noting that on the recent Tomb-sweeping Day, China held mourning activities for the martyrs and compatriots who died in the COVID-19 outbreak, Wang said that Swiss embassies and consulates in China also participated in the mourning and flew their national flags at half-mast, which demonstrated the Swiss people's friendship with the Chinese people.
China is grateful for that, he added.
China, Wang said, is making every effort to support the global fight against the pandemic and has set up a green channel to ensure the fast and convenient delivery of anti-epidemic supplies.
Noting that the ventilator is the most urgently needed medical equipment for countries to fight the epidemic, Wang said China, which takes other countries' concerns seriously, is cranking up production of ventilators day and night.
Employees produce ventilators at Mindray Bio-Medical Electronics Co., Ltd., a medical device manufacturer based in Shenzhen, south China's Guangdong Province, March 31, 2020. (Xinhua/Liang Xu)
Wang said he hopes that Switzerland and other important suppliers of ventilator parts will significantly increase supply and help enterprises boost production, so as to relieve the pressing need of all countries.
This will not only provide material support for the global battle against the pandemic, but also help maintain the stability of the global industrial and supply chains, Wang said, adding that China also stands ready to strengthen cooperation with Switzerland in drug and vaccine research and development, among other fields.
The Chinese side hopes and believes that Switzerland will guarantee the health and safety of Chinese nationals and students in the European country, he added.
Wang also said the international community should abandon prejudice and suspicion and strengthen solidarity and coordination in the face of the severe challenges posed by the pandemic to the health and security of all mankind.
He said he believes that the international community, including Switzerland, will fairly evaluate China's anti-epidemic efforts and firmly resist words and deeds of political play-up under the pretext of this pandemic.
This year marks the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and Switzerland, Wang said, adding that the experience of jointly fighting the epidemic will further consolidate and deepen their friendship.
File photo shows that Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Swiss Federal Councillor and Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis hold the first round of foreign ministerial strategic talks between the two countries in Beijing, capital of China, April 3, 2018. (Xinhua/Yan Yan)
For his part, Cassis expressed gratitude for China's support and assistance in the epidemic fight, while congratulating China on its achievements in containing the virus.
He said Switzerland is ready to strengthen cooperation with China in such areas as ventilator production as well as drug and vaccine research and development, to jointly ensure the stability of industrial and supply chains, and to reduce the impact of the epidemic on bilateral economic and trade cooperation.
Switzerland does not agree with or participate in the politicization of the epidemic, Cassis said, adding that what the international community needs now is solidarity and cooperation instead of finger-pointing.
He said Switzerland will take good care of Chinese citizens and students in Switzerland and ensure their health and safety.
Switzerland, Cassis said, stands ready to celebrate with China the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties after prevailing over the epidemic through joint efforts. ■