African experts and officials deemed China's experience from its
coronavirus prevention and control valuable to inspire Africa's fight
against the COVID-19 pandemic.
Quince Mwabu, director-general of the non-governmental organization
Medical for Quality Healthcare in Zambia, said China, with its
experience, is the best country to help others in combating Covid-19.
"China is definitely the best country to help other countries in how
it has managed to suppress Covid-19 because they have the experience.
What's important is for countries to work hand-in-hand with China," he
said.
He made the remarks as cooperation and solidarity between Africa and
China are called for at an extraordinary China-Africa summit on
combating COVID-19 through video link held on Wednesday.
"African countries should utilize the opportunity to ensure that they
get the best experience from China," noted Yusuf Dodia, chairperson of
the Private Sector Development Association in Zambia, saying China's
experience needs to be shared with African countries.
There was a lot of misinformation on the pandemic, Dodia said, adding
that African nations should grasp the chance to get real facts as well
as establish solid cooperation with China.
According to Charles Onunaiju, director of the Center for China
Studies in Abuja, Nigeria, the most important aspect of the meeting is
about international responses to this pandemic.
"China has accumulated significant experience in response to this
pandemic. Leaders have shared the experience of their respective
response mechanisms," he noted, and expressed confidence about the
prospect for a joint fight.
"I believe that this virtual summit between China and African leaders
will map out a coordinated approach not only to respond to Covid-19,
but more importantly, post-Covid-19 challenge of recovery," he said,
adding the coordinated approach "will go a long way in achieving a quick
recovery."
Zimbabwe, which is faced with a huge Covid-19 challenge due to its
weak public health system and inadequate resources, is keen to learn
from China's anti-coronavirus experience, Foreign Affairs and
International Trade Minister Sibusiso Moyo said.
"We would want information shared between China and Zimbabwe and
China and the rest of Africa, particularly on how we can control
infections emanating from returnees or transiting passengers," Moyo
explained.
The minister also said China's material and technical support so far
has helped alleviate the difficulties his country has suffered.
While urging efforts to defeat Covid-19 together, Chinese President
Xi Jinping, who chaired the China-Africa summit, also pledged continued
support to Africa "by providing supplies, sending expert teams, and
facilitating Africa's procurement of medical supplies in China."
The summit has drawn close attention from countries around the world.
Ali Sarwar Naqvi, executive director at the Islamabad-based Center for
International Strategic Studies in Pakistan, said China's support will
be very important to Africa's fight against the pandemic.
"President Xi's promise to continue (to) help African countries to
combat Covid-19 is a big relief to the poor nations in the region, who
have very weak health facilities and infrastructure," he said.
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