The Silk Road Journal - By Mahika Ming

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres addressing a virtual meeting of the United Nations Security Council on COVID-19 recently called for a global plan to vaccinate against COVID-19. The former socialist Prime Minister of Portugal who now heads the world body warned that inequities at the first stages that would risk global health and economy. At the same meeting the Foreign minister of the Peoples Republic of China (PRC) Wang Yi requested the global community to say no to vaccine nationalism and encouraged to promote fair and equal access to the vaccines especially to those living in less developed countries and those living in conflicts etc. His statement “Nothing matters more than the people and nothing is more valuable than human lives” can be analyzed as the most effective during the entire conference. It is important for all countries to reject dividing policies and embrace solidarity in the name of humanity at a time when the entire globe is facing a threat. The PRC has already started working towards being Carbon neutral by 2060 and at the meeting the PRC called for earnestly implementing UNSC resolution to create an enabling environment to face the epidemic with confidence especially for women, children and disadvantaged groups. When the United Nations was established after World War II, the PRC was not recognized by the west but later the PRC was given its due place in the world body. Since joining the UN, the PRC has always promoted multilateralism and had always urged all concerned to display humanitarian spirit and reject unilateral sanctions etc. which has no base in International Law. Minister Wang requested the WFP, UNICEF and other related agencies to use the BRI transport and logistics networks to establish green channels for developing countries especially with regard to vaccine delivery. The transport networks developed by the BRI are catering to the global community and the Chinese people very efficiently.

Within the PRC, the courier sector has delivered 365 million parcels in the first five days of the seven day spring festival holiday. It is an increase of 224% over the same period in 2020. On the first two days beginning on 11^th February, express delivery firms have handled approx. 130 million parcels marking a 223% increase from 2020 (Ref. China Post). People in China reduced their movements during this spring festival on the request of the government as measure of precaution against COVID – 19. The spring festival in China is considered the world’s largest people movement event. We saw populations in Europe and other parts were rioting against their own governments protesting against the lock downs imposed for their own good. In such an environment it is notable to see how the people in the PRC are cooperating to face the challenge by reducing movement and depending on postal services to send gifts or receive purchases online for family and friends.

The writer is an analyst with interests in the financial and sustainable development sectors with postgraduate exposure in the Far East (mahika.ming@gmail.com).