A global online forum for think tanks was held on Tuesday and Wednesday in Beijing, bringing together more than 160 experts and media representatives from 48 countries and nine international organizations.

Experts discussed ways to enhance unity and increase cooperation between countries in the fight against COVID-19, as well as methods for building a global community of shared future.

China has always stood closely with other countries, sharing common endeavors and overcoming difficulties together. It is the role of think tanks to contribute wisdom and strength to bolster global cooperation in combatting COVID-19 and promoting global economic development, explained an official from the State Council Information Office.

Experts from Croatia, Slovenia, Egypt. Russia and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) said China has made great efforts in promoting global cooperation and is working hard to tackle the epidemic.

In the opening speech, Yasuo Fukuda, former prime minister of Japan, said that mankind shares a common destiny. He added that facing the challenge of the pandemic, we must adhere to international cooperation and support the leading role of the U.N. and WTO in global public health governance, and jointly respond to the epidemic.

Former President of Kyrgyzstan Roza Otunbayeva spoke about the need for all countries to strengthen cooperation and partnership, and work together to build a world of shared prosperity.

Igor Ivanov, president of the Russian International Affairs Council, pointed out that viruses are the common enemy of mankind, and that unity and cooperation are the most powerful weapons in overcoming the epidemic.

Many attendees called for countries worldwide to join hands in such areas as economic recovery, vaccine research and development, environmental protection, and digital governance.

The online forum was jointly hosted by 10 think tanks around the world. A joint statement was released after the forum saying: "We share the abiding commitment of putting the people and their lives first. We salute all the countries that have taken active and effective measures and made huge sacrifices to control COVID-19 under their particular national conditions."

The statement also called on all countries to live up to their responsibilities for their people and promote global cooperation against COVID-19.