UNGA Resolution Calls for Intensified International Cooperation Against COVID-19 Outbreak

Source:中国外交部网站

The 74th Session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA) adopted a resolution on 2 April, which underlines the massive negative impact on human society brought by the COVID-19 outbreak and calls for intensified international cooperation to defeat the virus.

In this resolution, entitled "Global Solidarity to Fight the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)", the UNGA notes "with great concern" the threat of the virus to human health, safety and well-being, and acknowledges its "unprecedented" effects on the international community, including the severe disruption to societies and economies, as well as to global travel and commerce, and the devastating impact on the livelihood of people.

The UNGA also recognizes that defeating the virus requires a "global response" based on unity, solidarity and renewed multilateral cooperation. It therefore calls for intensified international cooperation by exchanging information, scientific knowledge and best practices, and by applying the relevant guidelines recommended by the World Health Organization to contain, mitigate and defeat the outbreak.

The resolution is the first to be adopted by the UNGA on COVID-19. As no physical meetings could be held due to the outbreak, it was adopted under a silence procedure, which means that with no objection received by the voting deadline of 6 pm on 2 April local time, letters were sent to member states by the UNGA President to confirm the adoption of the resolution.