In 2020, mankind has experienced some unprecedented challenges, the COVID-19 pandemic and the profound changes unseen in centuries. The destiny of humanity is as closely bonded together as never before.

The sudden outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted the pace of many.

Facing the virus, some countries adopted a herd immunity approach, some regions stuck to "no mask", while some people insisted on attending social gatherings, which has led to skyrocketing confirmed cases.

This is a human catastrophe.

China, the world's most populous country, took the lead in fighting against the virus.

On the evening of January 20th,2020, human-to-human transmission was confirmed by leading respiratory disease expert Zhong Nanshan.

Three days later, China announced that Wuhan was locked down, imposing the largest quarantine in human history.

From newborn babies to centenarians, every life was fully protected.

By sharing experience of pandemic control without reservation, and offering utmost assistance to other countries, China also actively engages in international epidemic prevention and control.

China has secured major strategic outcomes in the domestic fight against the virus and saved tens of thousands of lives with concrete actions, manifesting its sincere proposition of building a community with a shared future for mankind.

The pandemic has profoundly affected every country and accelerated the evolution of international landscape.

Economic recession, trade contraction, limited contacts, frequent conflicts...In such an uncertain world, China is bringing the world more certainties.

With the recent celebration of the 40th anniversary of the establishment of the Shenzhen Special Economic Zone and the 30th anniversary of the development and opening-up of Shanghai's Pudong, China has sent out a strong signal that the country's door to the outside world will become more and more open.

The goal of eliminating extreme poverty has been reached on schedule, decisive achievements have been made in the building of a moderately prosperous society in all respects, and China is the only major economy to see growth in 2020, according to the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

Under the pandemic, the world is changing, so is China, and the world and China are even more inseparable.

On November 15th, 2020, the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) agreement was signed among its 15 participating countries, launching the world's biggest free trade bloc.

On December 3rd, 2020, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) projected that China is expected to account for over a third of the world's economic expansion.

On December 30th, 2020, Chinese President Xi Jinping and European Union leaders announced that the two sides have completed investment agreement negotiations as scheduled.

A just cause should be pursued for the common good. The great love knows no borders.

At the 73rd World Health Assembly, President Xi Jinping pointed out that COVID-19 vaccine development and deployment in China, when available, will be made a global public good. This will be China's contribution to ensuring vaccine accessibility and affordability in developing countries.

China today is more than the country itself; it is very much a part of Asia and the world. In the time to come, China will open its arms wider to embrace the world and contribute the dynamic achievements of Chinese civilization to a better world in the future.

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