Coronavirus an opportunity for BRI healthcare cooperation

By Wei Jianguo Source:Global Times Published: 2020/3/5 21:18:41

Countries can learn from China’s experience


A Belt and Road Forum sign in Beijing Photo: IC



While countries around the world tackle novel coronavirus pneumonia (COVID-19), voices talking down the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) have unsurprisingly resurfaced. 

The COVID-19 epidemic will not hamper the BRI. On the contrary, now is a great opportunity to take the BRI to a new level. China and other countries along the BRI route can together explore cooperation in the medical and healthcare sector. The trade volume between China and the BRI will see double-digit expansion as the virus fades away.

Some developed countries have placed export bans on medical supplies. To combat the coronavirus, developing countries along the BRI, which are more in need of drugs and protective supplies, have to stick together and enhance the exchange of information on the epidemic, border controls, inspections and quarantines. Additionally, they should support one another with drugs, medical equipment and even medical staff. Late last month, China sent a team to Iran to help the country fight COVID-19. China has assisted local people in building anti-malaria centers, women and children's hospitals and medical training centers in Africa. Cooperation can be carried out on medical staff training and medical supplies under the BRI. 

Aside from information and personnel exchanges, China and other BRI countries should cooperate in terms of vaccines and cures for COVID-19. China has updated its diagnosis and treatment plan several times. Other BRI countries could learn from China's experience without having to start from scratch. 

When battling the virus, countries can not only borrow virus control and prevention experience from China, but also China's management and governance experience. According to their local situations, BRI countries can use that experience to counter or mitigate COVID-19 impact.

The BRI can offer financial support for medical cooperation among countries through loans from the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank and private equity funds. Those institutions will address customer needs in the future development of BRI healthcare projects. 

The outbreak of COVID-19 is prompting countries to seek new areas of cooperation under the BRI. A handful of African countries have encountered their worst locust problems in decades. How best to revive damaged agricultural industries and safeguard food production amid COVID-19 outbreaks is another important task for the BRI. 

Technological advancements such as remote education, applications that generate health codes, electronic payment and 5G have been widely adopted in China to avoid human-to-human interaction amid the virus spread. Witnessing these developments, BRI countries will be more interested in developing global supply chain cooperation with China in these areas.

The world economy has taken a hit from the coronavirus. It is the right time for the BRI to take the lead by driving an economic recovery. The global supply chain has been impeded by the virus. By building ports and roads, the BRI will connect enough small and medium-sized enterprises to keep the global supply chain running and maintain the production of key products in key industries.

The BRI will further boost imports and exports after the coronavirus epidemic dies down. The China International Import Expo at the end of this year will likely boost China's trade volume with BRI countries. Growth in this trade volume is usually 4-5 percentage points higher than the general trade growth rate. After the epidemic, trade with BRI countries is expected to see double-digit growth.

The ultimate goal of the BRI is to build a community with a shared future for humanity. Responding to natural disasters and public emergencies and connecting countries through infrastructure will improve people's living standards and happiness. Some BRI projects may experience minor delays due to virus outbreaks, but difficulties are temporary; China and BRI countries should work together to push the projects forward and explore increased cooperation in fields such as healthcare, agriculture and technology.

The author is a former Chinese vice minister of commerce and executive deputy director of the China Center for International Economic Exchanges. bizopinion@globaltimes.com.cn

Posted in: ECONOMY

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