Xi Jinping calls for global unity in fight against Covid-19

In a video-link address to the World Economic Forum, Xi says countries should ‘ditch their cold war mentality’ and work together
Speech also warns of continued problems the world economy is facing and says meeting climate commitments will take time

Xi Jinping

William Zheng

Published: 10:30pm, 17 Jan 2022

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Chinese President Xi Jinping has called on countries to “discard their cold war mentality” and work together to defeat Covid-19, warning that confrontation could have “catastrophic consequences”.

In an address via video-link to the World Economic Forum, he said: “Countries are not riding separately in some 190 small boats, but are rather all in a giant ship on which our shared destiny hinges. Small boats may not survive a storm, but a giant ship is strong enough to brave a storm.”

He continued: “We need to discard the cold war mentality and seek peaceful coexistence and win-win outcomes. Our world today is far from being tranquil; rhetoric that stokes hatred and prejudice abounds.

“History has proved time and again that confrontation does not solve problems; it only invites catastrophic consequences.”

Without naming any countries, Xi said: “Acts of single-mindedly building ‘exclusive yards with high walls’ or ‘parallel systems’, of enthusiastically putting together exclusive small circles or blocs that polarise the world … will gravely undercut international efforts to tackle common challenges.”

Other speakers at the five-day conference – which for the second year in a row is being held online – include Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, billionaire philanthropist Bill Gates, World Health Organization chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, US climate envoy John Kerry and the White House’s chief medical adviser Anthony Fauci.

In his 20-minute address, Xi warned that while the world economy is emerging from the depths, it still faces “many constraints”, including the disruption to global supply chains, continued rises in commodity prices and energy supply constraints.

“The global low-inflation environment has notably changed, and the risks of inflation driven by multiple factors are surfacing,” he said.

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But he said China’s economy was one rare bright spot, growing at about 8 per cent last year while keeping inflation relatively low.

He also discussed China’s climate change commitments, saying the country would take “solid and steady steps” and follow a gradual approach to phasing out traditional energy sources such as fossil fuels.

The country has committed to reaching peak emissions by 2030 and becoming carbon neutral by 2060.

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“Peak carbon and carbon neutrality cannot be realised overnight … China will pursue an orderly phase-down of traditional energy in the course of finding reliable new energy substitutes.

“This approach, which combines phasing out the old and bringing in the new, will ensure steady economic and social development.”

China has stuck to a strict zero-Covid policy and its borders remain largely closed to outsiders, but it has remained the world’s biggest manufacturing base throughout the pandemic.

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In his speech, Xi also repeated China’s commitments to supply vaccines to developing countries.

“China has already sent over two billion doses of vaccines to more than 120 countries and international organisations,” he said.

“Still, China will provide another billion doses to African countries, including 600 million doses as a donation, and will also donate 150 million doses to Asean [Association of Southeast Asian Nations] countries.”