THE World Health Organization (WHO) highly appreciates the tremendous efforts China has made to contain the novel coronavirus epidemic, its head said Saturday.

During a meeting with Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi on the sidelines of the 56th Munich Security Conference, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said China protects not only its own people but also people from other countries in the world “even at great costs to itself” and the WHO sent experts to China not because China lacks capacity but to show the solidarity and cooperation.

These important facts need to be understood by the world, and China’s efforts and sacrifices deserve appreciation and gratitude from all countries, Tedros said.

The WHO will continue to uphold the truth, adhere to the principles, stand firmly with China and provide all possible help. The WHO is confident that the epidemic will be overcome at an early date, he said.

He also called for all parties to maintain confidence, resist rumors and strengthen cooperation.

The WHO chief said epidemic knows no borders and the international community must unite against this common enemy of mankind.

Tedros said he has called for all countries to unite and cooperate in the scientific approach and on the basis of factual evidence, instead of spreading fake news and stigma.

Given the misinformation about the novel coronavirus epidemic, the WHO has communicated with some companies, including Google, to ensure that the public will get the authoritative information from the WHO, Tedros noted.

Wang said whenever an epidemic occurs, rumors spread and cause panic, and there should be someone to be impartial and tell the truth.

He said no epidemic is invincible and this one is no exception. With the great efforts of the Chinese people, the prevention and control of epidemic is heading in a positive direction.

China welcomes the visit of the WHO expert team and is willing to work closely with the WHO to defeat the epidemic as soon as possible, not only safeguarding the lives and health of Chinese people, but also contributing to international public health cause, he noted.

Participants at the 56th Munich Security Conference have also spoken highly of China’s efforts.

Jeremy Farrer, director of the Wellcome Trust, a research charity based in London, said that China’s timely response and its efforts against the epidemic have been buying precious time for other countries to better put in place prevention methods of their own.

“In this sense, we owe China a huge amount,” said Farrer.

(Xinhua)

Michael Schumann, head of the German Federal Association for Economic Development and Foreign Trade, said the Chinese people are making great efforts to contain the virus from spreading to other parts of the world.

“China is worth our respect and support,” Schumann said.