Manend Team 
ISLAMABAD, (MANEND NEWS): On 27 April 2021, State Councilor and
Foreign Minister Wang Yi of the People’s Republic of China, Acting
Foreign Minister Mirwais Nab of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan,
Foreign Minister A.K. Abdul Momen of the People’s Republic of
Bangladesh, Foreign Minister Pradeep Kumar Gyawali of Nepal, Foreign
Minister Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi of the Islamic Republic of
Pakistan, and Foreign Minister Dinesh Gunawardena of the Democratic
Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka held a video conference on joint
response to COVID-19, and exchanged views on international and
regional cooperation on pandemic response and post-COVID economic
recovery.
According to a statement issued by Foreign Office Spokesperson Zahid
Hafeez Chaudhri on Wednesday, the Foreign Ministers noted with
satisfaction the concerted and productive efforts made by their
countries since the start of COVID-19 to combat the virus and promote
economic recovery in the spirit of overcoming challenges through
cooperation and mutual assistance.
The Foreign Ministers pointed out that COVID-19 is a common enemy
of humankind, and that countries should step up solidarity and
cooperation to win the final victory over it. China expressed its
readiness to provide continued medical supplies and technical
assistance to participating countries to the best of its ability. Chinese
initiative was appreciated.
The Foreign Ministers reiterated their firm support to WHO’s due role
in the global cooperation against COVID-19 and acknowledged that
tracing the origin of the virus is a matter of science and a global
mission. The Foreign Ministers expressed opposition to politicizing the
issue. The participating countries will strengthen cooperation to track
COVID-19 mutation closely.
The Foreign Ministers agreed that vaccines, as a key weapon to defeat
COVID-19, should be distributed in accordance with the principle of
equity and justice. The Foreign Ministers expressed that “vaccine
nationalism” will hinder the global efforts to defeat COVID-19 and
underscored the need to avoid the “immunity gap”. The Foreign
Ministers appreciated China’s efforts in addressing this challenge.
China would act on President Xi Jinping’s important statement on
making the vaccines a global public good, and carry out continued
vaccine cooperation with the participating countries in a flexible
manner, including co-production of COVID-19 vaccines.
The Foreign Ministers recognized the serious impact of COVID-19 on
the global economy and its complex implications for the sustainable
development of all countries. The Foreign Ministers agreed to deepen
Belt and Road cooperation, open their borders under the premise of
pandemic prevention and control for smooth trade, keep the industrial
and supply chains stable and secure, and give a stronger boost to
economic recovery and the improvement of people’s lives. China
agreed to support the participating countries to overcome the impact
of COVID-19 on their economies through enhanced level of economic
cooperation and collaboration.
The Foreign Ministers stressed the importance to strengthen
cooperation in poverty reduction, food security and other non-
traditional security fields to protect the livelihood of people with special
attention to the most vulnerable groups. To facilitate personnel
exchanges against the backdrop of COVID-19, the Foreign Ministers
agreed to discuss the possibility of mutual recognition of digital “health
codes”.
To push forward practical cooperation in relevant fields, China
announced its decision to establish a China-South Asian Countries
Emergency Supplies Reserve, set up a China-South Asian Countries
Poverty Alleviation and Cooperative Development Center, and hold a
China-South Asian Countries E-commerce Cooperation Forum on
Poverty Alleviation in Rural Areas. The other participating countries
expressed support. The Foreign Ministers agreed to make these
mechanisms inclusive, transparent, sustainable and demand-driven.
The Foreign Ministers agreed to closely follow the development of
COVID-19 situation in India, and expressed their willingness to provide
needed support through respective channels in consultation with India.
The Foreign Ministers agreed to maintain the momentum of
cooperation among the six countries, hold consultations at the Foreign
Minister, Vice Foreign Minister/Secretary and Director General levels,
expand cooperation areas and lend impetus to future cooperation. In
addition, in a spirit of openness, inclusiveness and win-win
cooperation, the six countries welcomed active participation of other
countries in the region.
