New blueprint for China’s development and new opportunities for China-PH cooperation

FIGHTING the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) is the main theme of 2020 all around the world. While still furiously raging, the pandemic is leading the world into a serious global economic recession and a series of turbulence and challenges. Being the first to get hard hit by the pandemic, China has controlled the virus with arduous effort and is expected to be the only major economy to see growth this year. Acting out of solidarity with other countries in fighting Covid-19, China has willingly shared its full experience and has done its best to assist the international community. China has extended its hand by not only providing assistance to 150 countries and seven international organizations, but also has pledged that its vaccines will be global public goods. This is how China has acted out its responsibility.

Facing the pandemic, China and the Philippines have been fighting hand in hand, which not only builds a closer partnership, but also sets a good example for the international cooperation in fighting Covid-19. Since the epidemic outbreak in the Philippines, China has sent a medical team to the Philippines and continuously provided much-needed medical supplies through multi-channels. The Chinese government has donated 252,000 test kits, 1,870,000 surgical masks, personal protective equipment (PPE), 150 high-flow humidifiers and 130 ventilators. A large number of Chinese local governments, enterprises and civil groups also donated millions of sets of PPE and other medical supplies to different local governments and hospitals in the Philippines. The Chinese Embassy and consulates have also donated over 40,000 “Friendship Bags” containing food and daily necessities to Filipino families in need across the country.