China calls for ‘ceasefire’ in coronavirus blame game at BRICS meeting

Wang Yi, China’s foreign minister, defends World Health Organisation and calls for countries to work together

Pledges to ease debt burden on African countries and help local governments fight the virus

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China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi said supporting the WHO would save more lives and cure more patients. Photo: AFP

Published: 5:45pm, 29 Apr 2020Updated: 10:14pm, 29 Apr 2020

China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi has called for a “ceasefire” in the international blame game over the coronavirus pandemic and urged for the World Health Organisation to be given more support, which he said could save lives.

Speaking at a special meeting on Monday of BRICS – the grouping of the emerging economies of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa – Wang also said China would “do whatever it can” to alleviate the debt burden on African nations and help local governments improve their capability to fight the virus.

“As a core force in coordinating global anti-pandemic cooperation, the World Health Organisation is indispensable in helping developing countries, especially the brothers and sisters in Africa,” Wang said, telling his counterparts, by video link, that “supporting the WHO would save more lives and cure more patients.”

Wang Yi (right) and his counterparts meet via video link for the BRICS foreign ministers' extraordinary conference on Covid-19. Photo: Xinhua

In a veiled criticism of the US decision to halt its funding of the WHO, Wang said: “At this crucial moment in humanity’s fight against the virus, any moves to undermine the authority of WHO and hamper WHO’s role is inappropriate and would find no support from the international community.”

Wang also defended China’s controversial support for coronavirus-hit countries – which some believe is an attempt to further Beijing’s geopolitical ambitions for global leadership, while also dispelling criticism of its handling of the outbreak, first reported in the central Chinese city of Wuhan in late December.