BRI projects can help global recovery

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought about major changes around the world, subverting－or reshaping－many international consensuses. The pandemic is the third major event that has changed the global agenda this century, the first two being the Sept 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the United States and the 2008 global financial crisis. Among the other major developments that have impacted the world since 2017 are the trade war launched by the United States and Brexit.

Public health crises have always been a severe challenge for society, as people's health is a top priority for all countries. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, millions of people have lost their jobs, and many children have either dropped out of or can't attend school, leading to psychological trauma. An International Labour Organization report says more than one-sixth of the young people worldwide have lost their jobs, and 42 percent of those still employed have had their pay cut.

The situation seems to be particularly bad in developing countries. And most of the countries along the Belt and Road are developing ones and faced public health challenges even before the pandemic broke out. Statistics show that only 3 percent of medicines in Africa are produced locally, and 70 percent of the world's population lacks adequate medical services. So cooperation in public healthcare is regarded as a fundamental task of the Belt and Road Initiative.