TOKYO, April 29 (Xinhua) -- "All countries should give top priority to the safety and health of their nationals and strengthen mutual support and cooperation to jointly prevent and control the COVID-19 epidemic," said Tadatomo Yoshida, secretary general of Japan's Social Democratic Party.
"In the era of globalization, countries around the world are a community with a shared future, living side by side and developing together. The epidemic knows no borders and is the common enemy of mankind," Yoshida said in a written interview with Xinhua.
On April 2nd, the Communist Party of China (CPC), along with more than 230 political parties in over 100 countries, issued a joint open letter on COVID-19, pointing out that countries should put the lives, safety and health of the people above everything else, take resolute and forceful measures to curb the spread of the virus, enhance their consciousness of a community with a shared future for mankind, proactively rendering mutual help and support to one another, and mobilize resources and forces globally to defeat this virus, a common enemy to humanity.
Yoshida said that in the face of the global pandemic, political parties in many countries have gone beyond their respective positions and ideologies and jointly expressed the political will to strengthen international cooperation and jointly combat the epidemic.
The joint appeal itself is of epoch-making significance, he said. Based on the recognition of a community with a shared future for mankind, it is a gathering of global resources and forces, and it strengthens international cooperation and assistance, Yoshida said.
"Viruses know no borders and are the common enemies of mankind. The more difficult it is, the more we should support and help each other. We firmly oppose the politicization of public health issues, stigmatizing or discriminating against other countries because of the epidemic," he said.
Speaking of China's efforts to combat the epidemic, Yoshida said the decisive and strict closure of Wuhan had effectively prevented a large number of infections and deaths, and that the swift construction of Huoshenshan and Leishenshan hospitals is particularly striking.
In addition, during the whole anti-epidemic process, China has provided valuable experience to the world in the standardization of diagnosis and treatment procedures, rapid testing, and meticulous quarantine measures, he said.
The Chinese people's strict implementation of the public health management process also reflects the people's full trust in the leadership of the CPC, Yoshida said.
As pointed out in the joint appeal, countries should formulate emergency plans and measures according to their national conditions and mobilize the whole society to fight against the epidemic, he said.
When talking about the cooperation between Japan and China in the prevention, control and treatment of the epidemic, Yoshida said it is extremely important for the two countries to strengthen cooperation to jointly face the dual threats of the epidemic to society and economy.
The two sides should enhance information and experience sharing in the treatment of COVID-19, and strengthen cooperation in the transportation of pharmaceuticals and medical supplies, antiviral drugs and vaccines, and research and development of detection drugs, he said.
In addition, Japan and China enjoy close economic and trade cooperation, and the two countries should also strengthen industrial cooperation in the hope that they can overcome difficulties through cooperation, Yoshida said.
The COVID-19 outbreak has posed a serious threat to public hygiene, health and world peace and development, he said. In this perspective, the concept of a community with a shared future for public health is very precise and important, Yoshida said.
All countries should go beyond their own interests, put the safety and health of their nationals first, and strengthen international support and cooperation to jointly prevent and control the spread of the epidemic, the Japanese politician said. Enditem
