Xi Jinping: "COVID-19 Should Not Be Politicized"

Emphasizing Multilateral International Cooperation and COVID-19 Response through WHO, Contrasting Trump in UN General Assembly Speech

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy New York=Correspondent Baek Jong-min, Beijing=Correspondent Jo Young-shin] Chinese President Xi Jinping warned against the politicization of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) crisis.

On the 22nd (local time), President Xi said in a virtual speech at the United Nations General Assembly, "Countries must strengthen solidarity to respond to the COVID-19 crisis."

This is interpreted as a rebuttal to U.S. President Donald Trump, who mentioned China's responsibility for COVID-19 in his speech at the UN General Assembly on the same day.

In a virtual speech released before President Xi's, President Trump raised the issue of responsibility of China and the World Health Organization (WHO) for COVID-19 and argued that the UN should hold China accountable.

President Xi emphasized that the WHO should play a leading role in responding to COVID-19 and advocated for international cooperation through multilateralism instead of unilateralism.