Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- Secretary-General of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Vladimir Norov gave an interview to the Chinese newspaper China Daily, in which he shared his views and vision of a way out of this situation in connection with the coronavirus pandemic, as well as overcoming the challenges associated with it, Dunyo reported.

“In this difficult situation, I believe that global solidarity and international cooperation are the only right choice to reduce the consequences of these large-scale trials,” he said.

The SCO Secretary-General expressed the view that it is necessary to refrain from politicizing the theme of the coronavirus pandemic, as well as to fully support the efforts of the World Health Organization (WHO) to combat the virus.

“I would like to emphasize that the Joint Statement adopted following the extraordinary summit of the G20 leaders, held in a video conference format on March 26, recognizes the central coordinating role of WHO in countering the spread of COVID-19,” said V. Norov. - The member states of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization highly appreciate and comprehensively support the work of WHO, follow its recommendations for the prevention and control of the spread of the disease. The SCO intends to establish broad cooperation with WHO in order to strengthen public health in the Organization’s space, where almost half the world’s population lives.”

The SCO Secretary General also emphasized the importance of thoroughly studying the positive experience in combating the epidemic of countries such as China, South Korea, Singapore and use in other states.

“Effective anti-epidemic measures in China, the provision of reliable and transparent information, as well as recommendations made by WHO based on the Chinese experience in combating the coronavirus epidemic, allowed the world to win two months of valuable time to prepare for the fight against the epidemic,” the interview says.

The Secretary General informed that from the very beginning, the SCO member states have seriously understood the great danger of the coronavirus and that inaction in this situation can lead to disastrous consequences. In many SCO member states, emergency regimes are currently operating, special government commissions, operational headquarters have been created, which are responsible for combating COVID-2019 and containing its spread.

“The SCO countries maintain close contacts with each other at the level of heads of state, heads of ministries and departments responsible for health and public safety. A set of measures to provide humanitarian assistance was also implemented, at first it was carried out in the direction of China, and now all our countries are participating in this process, providing each other with financial means, food, medical equipment and drugs,” Norov said.

He also told the Chinese publication about the proposals and initiatives for the joint fight against coronavirus put forward by the SCO Secretariat as the coordinating body of the structure.