Joint non-governmental work in virus fight hailed
July 13 , 2020
Efforts by non-governmental organizations in China and the US have helped alleviate the effects of the pandemic in the two countries and strengthened global collaboration in the fight against the novel coronavirus, a report says.
The report, “China-US Non-governmental Cooperation in Response to COVID-19”, said China and the US “have complementary strengths and are at different stages of fighting the epidemic” and donations and assistance from the two countries’ non-governmental organizations, including private enterprises, academia, charitable organizations, chambers of commerce and individuals, are vital in curbing the virus.
The report was issued last week by the Center for China and Globalization, a think tank in Beijing, with the support of the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries and China Friendship Foundation for Peace and Development.
Chinese and US companies have taken advantage of being able to allocate funds and materials as well as to use technology, especially the supply of medical and personal protective equipment, to support the battle against COVID-19 in both countries, the report said.
Alan Beebe, president of AmCham China, said US businesses in China are deeply bonded with the country.
“We are part of Chinese society, and we’ve been here for decades, and we want to be here for the next hundred years. It’s our duty to step up and contribute in any way we can.”
The Chinese Academy of Social Sciences says that by Feb 17, 103 US companies had donated funds and materials with a total value of 538 million yuan, accounting for 25.7 percent of the total donations from foreign companies and ranking first among foreign-funded companies.
In return, China had exported more than 12 billion masks to the US during the pandemic, equivalent to providing nearly 40 masks for each US citizen, said Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi at a news conference on May 25.
Overseas Chinese and students and US people have voluntarily undertaken fundraising activities and donated protective materials, the report said.
Online survey
The report also referred to an online survey of public attitudes to Sino-US collaboration.
In 1,776 valid questionnaires collected from China and the US, respondents showed great support for the Sino-US civilian collaboration in fighting the pandemic, with more than 98 percent saying countries should help each other with the pandemic.
About 96.7 percent of respondents said they supported Sino-US non-governmental collaboration.
However, there have also been difficulties and obstacles, such as a trend to de-globalization, ups and downs in Sino-US relations, and limited communications channels between the two countries, the report said.
It suggested that non-governmental organizations in both countries could work together to improve Sino-US relations by further strengthening economic and trade ties, broadening people-to-people exchanges and improving mutual trust.
