China and Africa fight shoulder to shoulder against the COVID-19 pandemic: sent

China and Africa supported each other and are fighting shoulder to shoulder against the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, said Liu Yuxi, Head of the Chinese Mission to the African Union (AU).

“Looking back on this year, China and Africa have supported each other and are fighting shoulder to shoulder against the COVID-19 pandemic. China received valuable support from the African Union and African countries when it faced the most difficult period, ”said the Chinese envoy.

Liu made the remarks on Monday when senior officials from the AU Commission and the African Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC Africa), representatives from several African countries, diplomats from the Chinese mission to the AU and dignitaries Seniors witnessed the ground breaking. ceremony for the future headquarters of the CDC Africa project, with help from China, located on the southern outskirts of Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia.

“When the outbreak reached Africa, China sent teams of medical experts to 16 African countries, established joint hospital cooperation with 42 African countries, offered urgent medical supplies to the African Union and almost all African countries, and pledged to implement the G20 Debt Relief Initiative. All of these are the best interpretation that a friend in need is a friend, ”Liu said.

Liu, who noted that “China and Africa are strong advocates of multilateralism and important forces for world peace and development,” also stated that China “will continue to support the African Union’s Joint Continental Strategy for Africa for the COVID-19 outbreak. and Africa’s efforts to build stronger public health prevention and control systems. “

He also stressed that China will try to make COVID-19 vaccines a global, accessible and affordable public good for African countries.

“China is joining Africa to build an even stronger China-Africa community with a shared future,” Liu said.

The historic CDC Africa headquarters project, which covers an area of ​​90,000 square meters and with a total construction area of ​​almost 40,000 square meters, is expected to be completed in 25 months. It will be equipped with modern office buildings, high-end laboratories and accessories.

Once completed, the future CDC Africa headquarters will be another historic avenue into the Ethiopian capital, which also houses the China-assisted AU headquarters, the tallest structure in Ethiopia so far.

According to Liu, the AU headquarters in Addis Ababa has since become a key landmark for Ethiopia and even all of Africa, as well as the symbol of China-Africa friendship.