By JIA Qingguo

Director of the Institute for Global Cooperation and Understanding (iGCU), Peking University

Member of the Standing Committee of the 11th National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference

Former Dean of the School of International Studies at Peking University

The spread of the COVID-19 pandemic has become the focus of international attention recently. Some countries and civil society organizations have aided China to the best of their abilities, to which we have responded with graciousness. As the domestic coronavirus epidemic abated, China is now actively engaged in assisting other countries impacted by it. "This is a constructive interaction with kind intentions between China and other countries in preventing and controlling the pandemic, wherein the community of human destiny is manifested. In hindsight, the interaction was conducive to both China and other countries in that by helping China contain the outbreak, other countries have gained a larger window of opportunity to respond to it. Likewise, as China spared no effort to contain its domestic outbreak, it was not only protecting itself but also offering time and experience for the rest of the world to better respond to the pandemic," Jia Qingguo, a CPPCC National Committee member and professor at the School of International Studies, Peking University, said in an interview.

As China achieved a preliminary victory over the outbreak, JIA Qingguo reckons, the next step is to continue the containment of the coronavirus as industries resume full, reviving the country's economy and people's lives in an orderly fashion. In view of the close links between China’s economy and the rest of the world, stabilizing foreign trade has become critical as one of the goals in current foreign relations. "As the global pandemic worsens rapidly, we need to do the following to stabilize foreign trade: First, we must strengthen international cooperation to fight the pandemic, especially the cooperation in antiviral researches, so that effective medications and vaccines can be developed as soon as possible to stop the coronavirus outbreak. Second, we should, as much as we can, step up aid relief to other countries for combating the pandemic, especially to developing countries with poor medical conditions. Third, our aids to other countries should be all-inclusive—not only material ones but also our technologies and experiences, with nothing held back. By helping others, we are helping ourselves. Only by containing the pandemic globally can we be truly safe, where the existence of an international market is possible and our foreign trade can be stabilized fundamentally. Fourth, such aid should not be politicized," Jia Qingguo said.

In JIA Qingguo's view, the fate of all countries is connected in the era of globalization, as General Secretary Xi Jinping has proposed. It is the defining trend of the times and the shared aspiration of the people to cooperate to meet common challenges, especially in dealing with large-scale infectious diseases. "Strengthening international cooperation during the pandemic is essential for the times we are living in and a national interest. Historically, first of all, developed countries are stronger in their abilities and experiences in dealing with large-scale infectious diseases. We should take this opportunity to learn from them to better respond to the outbreak. Second, given some’s concerns over the rapid rise of China, it makes both moral and political senses to strengthen our cooperation with other countries in this global battle against the pandemic. Third, by doing so, we increase the transparency of our work in epidemic management, thereby further building up our image on the global stage. It also demonstrates China’s institutional advantages in combating the pandemic. In short, international cooperation against coronavirus will help China as well as the rest of the world,” Jia Qingguo stated.

Regarding this topic, JIA Qingguo made three suggestions: 

First, respond to international aid to China with graciousness as soon as we can by expressing gratitude and explaining how it is used. 

Second, help countries battling against the pandemic to the best of our abilities and share our experiences proactively. 

Third, work to institutionalize existing cooperation and turn it into a best practice of Sino-foreign cooperation and collaboration.