LONDON, March 3 (Xinhua) -- The ongoing battle against COVID-19 is "living proof of how much we all belong to a community with a shared future for mankind and how urgently we all need to come together to build it," Chinese Ambassador to Britain Liu Xiaoming has said.
Liu made the remarks while giving a keynote speech Monday at the Chatham House, a London-based independent policy institute, stressing that the world needs this spirit of community to safeguard the health and wellbeing of mankind.
"COVID-19 is posing a challenge for all. So is tackling it a responsibility for all. This battle against the virus once again shows that countries of the world are invariably associated with one another, sharing weal and woe," Liu said.
"If we come to each other's aid in this time of difficulty and fight for our shared future, we can build a "impregnable fortress" and win the battle against the virus," he said.
"Our shared future lies in our own hands. The right choice is to pull in the same direction and address challenges together in the spirit of a community with a shared future. If we choose wisely, we will embrace a peaceful, safe and beautiful world," said the envoy, adding that such a future is the common aspiration of all people in the world.
Amid the current situation and in face of the challenges in the world, Liu said the international community should make four efforts to build a community with a shared future for mankind, including pulling in the same direction instead of undercutting each other, engaging in win-win cooperation rather than indulging in a game of "I-win-you-lose," upholding multilateralism and opposing unilateralism, and respecting and learning from each other rather than boosting arrogance and building walls.
The ambassador said the Chinese word for "crisis" reflects the wisdom and philosophical thinking of the Chinese people as it is the combination of two words, crisis and opportunities.
"The Chinese people always believe there are opportunities in crisis, and we always try our best to turn crisis into opportunities," he said.
Liu appealed to the world to have more confidence in overcoming the difficulties and work together to turn crisis into opportunities.
"Together we can ensure the steady and sustained development of China-UK 'Golden Era'. Together we can promote the building of a community with a shared future for mankind. Together we can make our world a better place with lasting peace and common prosperity," he said.
