Sounthone Xayachack, chairperson of Committee for External Relations of CC of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party, with Chinese Ambassador to the Laos Jiang Zaidong earlier. (PHOTO PROVIDED TO CHINA DAILY)

The intensive efforts of the Chinese people and government in cooperating with other countries to contain the spread of the COVID-19 are to be valued high, according to officials and analysts.

China has won high appreciation from large parts of the international community for offering medical materials and equipment and dispatching groups of medical teams to other countries.

Sounthone Xayachack, senior official, Lao People’s Revolutionary Party

“China has won high appreciation from large parts of the international community for offering medical materials and equipment and dispatching groups of medical teams to other countries,” said Sounthone Xayachack, a senior official of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party.

She noted that China has actively engaged itself in international cooperation against the pandemic while making solid achievements in fighting domestic spread of COVID-19.

The Chinese government had provided or is providing supplies to 127 countries and four international organizations, including surgical masks, protective gears and testing reagents, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian said at a regular news conference on April 10 in Beijing.

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Moreover, localities, enterprises and civil groups in China also donated medical supplies to more than 100 countries, regions and international organizations, and held over 70 video conferences with medical experts from about 150 countries and international organizations. Businesses are working at full capacity to satisfy orders for medical supplies to other countries.  

 “With its fast spread and wide reach, the pandemic has taught humans a lesson, so that all countries become aware that no single nation can rise to the virus challenge alone without international cooperation,” said Sounthone Xayachack, chairperson of Committee for External Relations of CC of the LPRP.

“It is both important and imperative that China has proposed the vision of building a global community of shared public health for mankind to face the common and serious threat,” Sounthone told China Daily in a written interview.

China has provided support and assistance to the international community within its capacity with the vision of a community with a shared future for mankind, Zhao noted earlier.

Sounthone Xayachack, chairperson of Committee for External Relations of CC of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party, gives a speech at Vientiane earlier this year. (PHOTO PROVIDED TO CHINA DAILY)

Sounthone said as human lives are under severe threat, peoples in all countries can only win total victory against the pandemic by uniting efforts and joining hands in consensus.

The LPRP, together with many others, “support the call of the Communist Party of China for major parties of the world to strengthen cooperation in countering the COVID-19 pandemic,” she said.

Dong Guang Vinh, a conductor from Vietnamese capital Hanoi, said, “What China has done to control the pandemic can be an example for the rest.”

China has adopted desirable comprehensive approaches in its intense battle against the pandemic over the past months and exercised caution in resumption of production while helping others, he noted.

Vannarith Chheang, president of Cambodia-based think tank Asian Vision Institute, also said he believes China is playing a vital role in the global battle against the COVID-19.

Sounthone said China has been united and resolute in countering the epidemic. Under strong leadership, China has taken comprehensive and effective measures, timely treatment of patients, tracing of close contacts and curbing of virus import from abroad.

The Laos and its people hold high regard for China’s firm political resolution and wise decision making which have led to the decisive victory against the virus attack, she said. Only by further enhancing close cooperation can the world beat the pandemic once and for all and reduce its impact.

Chheang said that regional and even international plans are needed to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic, though countries have come up with plan to deal with the situation domestically,

In addition to knowledge sharing and medical supplies, China and others like Cambodia can also work to deal with the economic disruptions caused by the COVID-19, including food crisis, manufacturing supply chain and sharp decline in market demand.

The Laos reported its first confirmed case of COVID-19 on March 24. A total of 19 patients had been confirmed by April 13 with no fatality, according to data from the World Health Organization. Cambodia has had 122 confirmed cases from Jan 27 to April 12. Vietnam’s total number of confirmed cases was 262 by April 13.

The slow increase of confirmed cases in the Laos has benefited from the country’s effective measures “in reference to Chinese experiences and the solidarity and wide support of the Laotian people,” Sounthone said.

A simple farewell ceremony is held on April 12 at the Vientiane airport for the Chinese medical team heading home after completing their mission during about two weeks. (PHOTO PROVIDED TO CHINA DAILY)

China’s experiences have offered references and enlightenment for the Laotian government to guide its people against the crisis.

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A special working group has adopted a series of measures, including setting up 1,600 quarantine stations across the country. All travelers from high-risk nations are required to go through 14-day quarantine.

The country has yet to reopen its schools, kindergartens, and entertainment facilities. It has also tightened visa measures, including suspending free-visa visits for the time being.

Dong from Hanoi also noted that people like him in East and Southeast Asia have been closely observing government instructions, staying home most of the time and exercising social distancing outside. “Following guides by the government provides me a sense of security,” he said.

Contact the writers at kelly@chinadailyhk.com