NEW DELHI, March 26 (Xinhua) -- China's experience in fighting COVID-19 may provide direction to the international community when tackling a pandemic that has threatened global public health and the economy, an expert has said.
After it managed to contain the spread of COVID-19 at home, China has proactively offered help to others, sending medical assistance to dozens of countries and sharing information and its expertise with the world, said Swaran Singh, professor of School of International Studies in New Delhi in Jawaharlal Nehru University, in an interview with Xinhua.
"At the G20 (the Group of 20) virtual summit Thursday ... China's experience and knowledge both in containing the spread of COVID-19, also in developing an antidote to this virus remain unmatched and indispensable," said the professor.
The G20 members account for over 85 percent of the world's GDP and nearly 70 percent of global population. Moreover, it carries credibility of leading redemption efforts amid the 2008 global economic slowdown, he said.
Noting that some G20 members, including India and China, have become major producers of certain medical supplies, he said "this makes G20 an ideal platform to address the COVID-19 crisis."
"Other than a show of solidarity and expounding of their shared resolve to address this crisis, their coordination can minimise disjointed and duplicitous efforts with each nation," he said. "Their joint efforts ... will be highly reassuring and will certainly maximise outcomes for an early relief."
Speaking of the positive role played by the World Health Organization (WHO) in coordinating the fight against the epidemic, the professor called the agency "the most reliable global source of information on healthcare."
"Obviously, it has been cautious and careful in its studied responses so as to provide an effective leadership at the global level," he said.
COVID-19 presents a "test for global governance," especially in healthcare, a sector that needs more attention, the professor said.
"Like various other regulating regimes developed at the global level to address shared challenges of humankind, this sector also now needs to be treated as one global grid to maximise its effectiveness," he said.
Calling the G20 members "main hubs and drivers of global supply and value chains," the professor said "their coming together to revive their production and services will be the first important step to equip health-workers ... to boost their resolve in their daredevil dedication, and also to ensure early revival of the global economy."
