China News Service:

Just now, Mr. Zeng mentioned that nearly 30 video conferences had been held among Chinese and foreign medical experts to communicate and meet each other's needs. Could you go into detail about these conferences? What has been achieved? Thank you.

Zeng Yixin:

Thank you for your question. At the request of some countries and international organizations, the NHC has organized close to 30 video conferences on the treatment of COVID-19, involving medical experts from over 100 countries. These exchanges have proven to be very effective amid the current pandemic. We will hold more than 10 such events in the near future. On March 12, the NHC and the WHO jointly held a briefing on China's experience in COVID-19 prevention and control. Ma Xiaowei, minister of the NHC, introduced China's experience, which he believes features eight essential elements. They are a unified and efficient command system with science-based and targeted prevention and control strategies in accordance with the law, a prevention and control mode with the focus moved forward and shifted to the community level, coordinated deployment of medical resources, concerted efforts to improve prevention and treatment capacity, extensive use of science and technology, a vision of fighting COVID-19 for the people and by the people, and close communication and cooperation with other countries. Chinese experts also shared experience through video conferencing. Renowned Chinese respiratory specialist Zhong Nanshan, epidemiologist Li Lanjuan, and other experts on the frontline in Wuhan exchanged ideas with their foreign counterparts on the treatment of severe cases, nosocomial infection control, the prescription of medicine, the use of ventilators, and actions of self-protection of medical workers. These exchanges have contributed to global efforts to combat the pandemic.

Participants from around the globe spoke highly of the video conferences. For example, the WHO and countries in the Western Pacific Region thanked China for the timely experience sharing, which offered valuable support for countries around the world in uniting together to overcome the pandemic. As a matter of fact, all experiences were drawn from continuous exploration and analysis during our clinical practice and epidemic control. Some of the experiences are relatively universal. For instance, when treating some patients, doctors need to decide whether hormones should be used or not; if yes, when, how much, and for how long they should be used. Such experience is clinically urgent and instructive. Despite race differences, it offers some guidance for clinicians across the world in their prescription of medicine. I once attended a video conference with WHO officials as well as Italian officials and experts. They expressed a keen interest in convalescent plasma therapy introduced by Chinese experts. They asked questions about every detail, including how to collect and purify plasma, how to do testing safely, and how much plasma should be used. The therapy is beneficial to them. When social measures, such as community-based prevention and control, as well as traffic restrictions, are rolled out, national conditions, including culture, customs, weather, and geography, need to be taken into consideration. Still, other countries can learn from China's experience in this respect. Therefore, our international counterparts can fully recognize the significance and value of China's experience. They all considered it precious and expressed sincere gratitude to China. Thank you.