BEIJING, Feb. 6 (Xinhuanet) -- As China is doing its best to prevent and control the novel coronavirus outbreak, the U.S. unfriendly comments and actions towards China are not helpful at all.
Noting that the destinies of all countries are closely linked in a globalized world, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said, in the face of a public health crisis, countries should work together to overcome the difficulties.
Since the outbreak, the Chinese government has put paramount importance on the prevention and control measures and is coordinating with the international community in a spirit of openness, transparency and scientific coordination.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus praised the response of the Chinese Government, saying that it has demonstrated commitment to and determination in stopping the global spread.
When declaring the novel coronavirus outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern, the Director-General stressed that the WHO disfavors or even opposes imposing travel or trade restrictions on China.
However, the United States has raised its travel advisory for China to the highest level and has temporarily banned all foreigners who have traveled to China in the past 14 days from Feb. 2.
What is more jaw-dropping is that U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross blatantly claimed that the novel coronavirus outbreak could bode well for the U.S. job market.
Those U.S. moves, which go against the WHO recommendations, have set an unfavorable example that might distract resources from the anti-epidemic battle and embolden others to choose isolation when cooperation is badly needed.
In fact, Ross' reaction is not just ethically erroneous, but also lacks common sense.
The global supply chain has been put together over decades based on the rational choices of companies worldwide, including those from the United States. No chance occurrence, such as the ongoing epidemic, can profoundly change it.
As the situation develops both in China and internationally, countries have no choice but to act together to cope with their shared challenges in a spirit of calm, caution and mutual understanding.
International cooperation is the best way to fight the virus. Just as Hua stressed that "the virus knows no borders. The epidemic is temporary, but cooperation lasts. Faced with the public health crisis, countries should work together to tide over the difficulties. It serves the common interests of all".
