Chinese FM urges further global action on Ebola crisis

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi (R) addresses a High-Level Event on Ebola during the 69th session of the United Nations General Assembly at the UN headquarters in New York, on Sept. 25, 2014. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi Thursday called on the international community to take further action in its fight against the Ebola epidemic, which has claimed more than 2,900 lives and continues to wreck havoc. (Xinhua/Yin Bogu)

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi Thursday called on the international community to take further action in its fight against the Ebola epidemic, which has claimed more than 2,900 lives and continues to wreck havoc.

Wang made the appeal at a high-level meeting on the deadly epidemic at the United Nations General Assembly.

"Epidemic knows no borders, and Ebola is a common challenge for all countries around the world," he said.

The situation of fighting against the Ebola epidemic remains grim, and it cannot be handled by the affected countries on their own, he said, called on the international community to take further actions to build up confidence, stay united in adversity and adopt resolute measures to contain the epidemic.

"It is important that we offer timely and needed help," the senior Chinese official said.

He proposed that all parties send more medical workers, experts and protection equipment to the affected areas to help treat the infected, build up the capacity of epidemic testing, and assist communities in disease prevention and control.

"It is important that we form synergy," Wang added. "We should support the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations in continuing with their roles of mobilizing global resources to combat the epidemic."

It is imperative to follow the WHO roadmap, and actively work with the UN Mission for Ebola Emergency Response, said the foreign minister.

Meanwhile, he added, efforts should be made to address the root causes of the epidemic, including accelerating the research and development of vaccines and drugs and increasing input in Africa to help the continent enhance its public health capacity so as to prevent future outbreaks.

More than 2,900 people have been killed by the current Ebola outbreak, with the overwhelming majority of the deaths taking place in the three Western African countries of Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone, the WHO said in a report dated Wednesday.

The WHO warned on Tuesday that unless Ebola control measures in West Africa are enhanced quickly, more than 20,000 people will have been infected by early November.