As part of the 2nd Conference of Global Health Forum of Boao Forum for Asia, a webinar among experts to share the COVID-19 response practices was held on the afternoon of June 2, 2020.

Margaret Chan Fung Fu-chun, President of the Global Health Forum, presided over the meeting and made remarks. She said that the international community should learn from each other to form the largest possible joint force in the fight against the pandemic.

Ban Ki-moon, Chairman of the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA), said in the meeting that the COVID-19 outbreak and the complexity of the situation underscore the value and necessity of the GHF, which plays an important role as a platform to exchange experiences, inspire ideas and discuss solutions. Together with the World Health Organization (WHO), the BFA will contribute to the global fight against COVID-19.

BFA Secretary-General Li Baodong said that no country can stand alone in the face of such global challenges, and only through multilateralism and strengthened international cooperation can we better address global challenges.

Others who attended the meeting and shared experiences in fighting the epidemic included Wang Chen, Vice President of the Chinese Academy of Engineering (CAE), Wang Qi, CAE member, Sun Da, Vice-Commissioner of National Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shin Young-soo, former Regional Director for the Western Pacific at the WHO, Gauden Galea, WHO Representative to China, Jacques Pellet, Personal Envoy of the President for China and Head of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) Regional Delegation for East-Asia, Gabriel Matthew Leung, Dean of Medicine at the University of Hong Kong, Ilona Kickbusch, Director of the Global Health Centre and Chair of the Graduate Institute for International and Development Studies Geneva, Switzerland, Professor Chia Kee Seng, Dean of Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University of Singapore.

More than 200 participants, including experts in relevant departments at governments, international organizations, embassies and consulates in China, also attended via video link.

A special report titled “The Pandemic and the Changing World” was released online at the conference as well.

During the roundtable discussion, Wang Chen shared China’s practice of building Fangcang makeshift hospitals that can be set up quickly on a large scale at less cost.  Such facilities have five basic functions including isolation, triage, basic medical care, frequent monitoring and rapid referral as well as basic living amenities and social engagement. Focused on patients with mild symptoms, the makeshift hospital is an effective way to allocate resources to address healthcare shortages.

Wang Qi gave a presentation on the advantages of traditional Chinese medicine in COVID-19 prevention and control and its potential to contribute to the global fight against the pandemic.

Experts at the conference pointed out that Asian countries have generally done better in responding to the pandemic, especially in terms of national governance, society solidarity and community efforts.

As the pandemic has not yet come to an end, the international community needs to collaborate for quicker responses and systematic solutions while adhering to multilateral principles. Only through mutual learning and global cooperation, with engagement of all stakeholders, can better actions and responses be developed to combat the pandemic, making the world a safer place and creating a better future.