China contributes to global fight against COVID-19: Dominican expert

GUANGZHOU - China has adopted a great strategy in dealing with the new coronavirus, and its efforts to contain the virus have been recognized by the world, said Eduardo Hilarion Klinger Pevida, a member of the Academy of Sciences of the Dominican Republic.

In recent days, Klinger has had articles published in local mainstream media, providing details of China's positive moves and progress in its fight against the virus while dismissing rumors and false news.

"China's effective measures are very impressive, particularly, setting up a 1,000-bed hospital in just ten days does amaze the world," he said in an interview with Xinhua.

"China's rapid response to the virus and a differentiated risk-based containment strategy focus on those infected while protecting others from being contracted," he said.

Klinger rejected criticism of China's anti-epidemic measures, saying that the country has made great sacrifices by isolating millions of people to prevent further transmission.

He said that what has been happening in other countries has proved that they would also take stringent measures faced with the rapid spread of the disease.

"Rumors cooked up on the basis of political values are far more pestilent than the virus itself," said Klinger, adding that such measures as lockdowns and all-out bans on places of business have come at a huge cost to the economy.

"Other countries may not understand China's enormous sacrifice of economy, but it precisely demonstrates that China puts its people first, instead of economic benefits," he said.

The expert noted that China's economy may be affected by the epidemic, but won't be routed given the remarkable resilience and vitality of the Chinese economy.

As the World Health Organization has upgraded days earlier the risk level of the COVID-19 to "very high," global cooperation to combat the disease is of great importance, said Klinger, adding that China can play an important role in addressing public health emergencies.

He suggested that developing and underdeveloped countries cooperate with China in dealing with the epidemic for the safety and health of their citizens.