Sharing experience

In addition to sharing its research data with the international community, China is also keen to share its anti-epidemic experience with the rest of the world.

From February 16 to 24, China hosted the WHO-China Joint Mission on COVID-19, which visited Beijing, Sichuan and Guangdong provinces and Wuhan to carry out a field study. The team of experts on the mission drew several lessons from its investigation that can be applied in the global fight. Head of Mission Bruce Aylward, who is also a senior adviser to the Director General of the WHO, told CGTN that thanks to China's experience, other countries will not have to start from scratch.

According to the Chinese Foreign Ministry, as of March 11, China had published seven versions of its diagnosis and treatment plan in multiple languages, as well as six versions of its prevention and control plan. China shared this information with more than 100 countries and over 10 international and regional organizations. In addition, around 20 technical exchanges were organized in the form of videoconferences, covering subjects such as laboratory tests, epidemiological surveys, clinical diagnosis and treatment.

To better help counter the ongoing health crisis, China also sent teams of volunteer experts to Iran and Italy, two of the main centers of the epidemic outside China, on February 29 and March 11. The teams brought with them medical support equipment, including test kits for coronavirus and medical respirators.

Zhou Xiaohang, leader of the Chinese team dispatched to Iran, said the test kits were of major importance given the current situation in Iran. Indeed, reagents for rapid detection can confirm cases of suspected infection and isolate them earlier, which is very useful in detecting and controlling sources of infection. In the early stages of the epidemic, China also faced a shortage of test kits. The concerted efforts of scientists and companies made it possible to develop the 10 nucleic acid reagents for rapid detection and the five antibody reagents for rapid detection that are used in China today. They have been distributed in Chinese hospitals and given to a number of other countries including Iran, Italy, Japan and the Republic of Korea.

On March 7, China announced a donation of $20 million to the WHO in support of its coordination of global efforts against the epidemic of COVID-19. WHO Director General Tedros expressed his gratitude to the Chinese Government for overcoming its own difficulties, while reaching out to other countries at this critical moment.

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