Foreign news
CGTN Think Tank releases an analytical report on the global situation of the COVID-19 pandemic
As the global spread of the COVID-19 pandemic has not yet subsided, the CGTN Think Tank has released the Analytical Report on the Global Situation of the COVID-19 Pandemic (the “Report”) by sourcing data from the Johns Hopkins University website, Our World in Data and Pharmaceutical Technology that have not been comprehensively processed, analyzing research literature from the academic community and referring to the known impact of the pandemic on global economic and social development as well as the recommendations on its prevention and control from renowned public health experts.
The Report puts together the data on pandemic prevention and control measures in 51 sample countries to make rankings as a way of reflecting the current situation of pandemic control in these countries. It focuses on the importance that countries attach to personal safety, social and environmental stability, thereby providing ideas and directions for countries around the world to fight the pandemic.
The Report analyzes and evaluates the current status of pandemic prevention and control in the 51 countries based on five indicators, including the total number of confirmed cases, the number of newly confirmed cases, the total number of deaths, the number of vaccinations and the full cycle from pandemic outbreak to control as of 14 July.
The data shows that the United States has the worst performance on three of the five statistical indicators. The U.S. has over 34 million confirmed cases in total, the highest in the world, and over 600,000 deaths in total, also the highest in the world; and the number of days with less than 5,000 daily new cases in the full cycle from pandemic outbreak to control is only 62, still the worst among the sample countries.
According to the data, the situation in main European countries is not encouraging. When it comes to the total number of confirmed cases and deaths, France, the UK and Italy all rank high.
The data shows that some Asian countries have performed well in pandemic prevention and control, thanks to effective measures such as entry bans, quarantine and stringent testing at the border. China has the lowest number of confirmed new cases among the sample countries and the highest number of vaccinations in the world; Singapore and Vietnam rank low among all sample countries for the total number of COVID-19 deaths; and South Korea has adjusted the level of pandemic response in a timely manner, resulting in 537 days with less than 5,000 daily new cases.
In terms of the number of vaccinations, China is one of a few developing countries with the highest number of COVID-19 vaccinations due to its ability to develop and manufacture its own vaccines. At present, over 1.4 billion doses of COVID-19 vaccines have been administered in China. China has also supplied more than 500 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines and stock solutions to more than 100 countries and international organizations worldwide, equivalent to one-sixth of the total global vaccine production.
However, the statistics also lay bare that the vaccination progress in developing countries is significantly worse than that in developed countries, due to the severe inequality in the global distribution of vaccines. Countries with a poor vaccination record, such as Vietnam and Iraq, are still far from reaching herd immunity due to various limitations, such as poor health service and vaccine hoarding by certain developed countries.
The polarization in the number of confirmed cases, the number of deaths and the number of people vaccinated in different countries and regions of the world, as shown by the objective statistics, is very much related to national pandemic prevention and control policies and measures, and highlights the crucial role played by a country’s government in pandemic prevention and control.
Foreign news
Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic Seeks Nigeria’s Support for Self-Determination Struggle
By Joel Ajayi
The Minister of Foreign Relations and African Affairs of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR), Mohamed Bessat, has called on the Nigerian government and the international community to support his country’s quest for self-determination and an end to Moroccan occupation of Western Sahara.
Speaking during an official visit to Nigeria, Bessat emphasized the deep historical and diplomatic ties between Nigeria and the Sahrawi Republic, expressing appreciation for Nigeria’s longstanding commitment to anti-colonial struggles across Africa.
“I am in Nigeria at the invitation of my brother and colleague, His Excellency, the Honourable Yusuf Tuggar, Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs,” Bessat stated. “This visit reflects the long-standing relationship of brotherhood, solidarity, and cooperation between the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic.”
He said the visit aims to brief Nigerian leaders, lawmakers, diplomats, and the general public about the ongoing struggle in Western Sahara, a region he described as under illegal Moroccan occupation since 1975.
Bessat traced the origins of the conflict to the 1975 Madrid Agreements, in which colonial Spain—then under dictator Francisco Franco—ceded control of Western Sahara to Morocco and Mauritania after withdrawing.
“That agreement was a betrayal and a theft of our territory,” Bessat said. “It triggered a long war. Although we have good relations with Mauritania today, Morocco continues to occupy nearly two-thirds of our land. We are engaged in both military and diplomatic resistance to this illegal and brutal occupation.”
According to him, a joint African Union-United Nations peace plan was signed in 1990, proposing a referendum to allow the Sahrawi people to choose between independence or integration with Morocco.
“Sadly, Morocco has sabotaged this process repeatedly—first with delays, then by refusing outright to cooperate,” he added.
Describing Nigeria as the “backbone” of Africa’s anti-colonial history, Bessat praised the country’s leadership role in the liberation of African nations from Portuguese, apartheid, and colonial rule.
“We are calling on our Nigerian brothers and sisters to continue this proud tradition and help us close the last chapter of decolonisation in Africa,” he said.
He expressed gratitude for the support already received from Nigerian political parties, parliamentarians, and the government, calling it “encouraging and deeply appreciated.”
Bessat said that since 2020, Morocco has violated a longstanding ceasefire and resumed aggressive military operations, leading to near-daily confrontations between Sahrawi and Moroccan forces.
“Morocco has not only expanded its occupation but also constructed more military walls within our territory,” he explained.
He also highlighted ongoing human rights violations and resource exploitation in the occupied territories, urging the international community to act decisively.
Western Sahara, he said, is one of the most resource-rich territories in the world, with petroleum, gas, gold, diamonds, iron, copper, uranium, and rare earth minerals.
“Our natural wealth should be a blessing, but instead it has fueled conflict. Morocco is plundering these resources, further deepening the crisis,” he said. “We are calling for cooperation, not conflict. Recognize our right to self-determination, and we can engage in partnerships for mutual benefit.”
Bessat concluded by appealing to the global community to uphold international law and support the Sahrawi people’s legitimate aspirations.
“The world is becoming increasingly unstable due to the erosion of international legality. It’s time for all nations—big or small—to commit to the rule of law. Supporting our cause is the fastest route to peace, African unity, and economic cooperation,” he stated.
“We urge the world to help end the human rights violations and economic plunder in Western Sahara and bring Africa’s last decolonisation battle to a close.”
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