Commentary: Jointly curb flu to save world economy

Special Report:
World Tackles A/H1N1
Flu

Special Report: Global Financial Crisis

A staff member checks a visiter's body temperature during the third phase of the 105th Canton Fair in Guangzhou, capital of south China's Guangdong Province, May 3, 2009. The third phase of the 105th Canton Fair, China's largest trade event, began Sunday with preventive measures against the A/H1N1 flu. (Xinhua/Lu Hanxin)
Photo Gallery

by Fu Yunwei and Ming Jinwei

BEIJING, May 4 (Xinhua) -- At a time when the global
financial crisis still ravages the world economy, the outbreak of influenza
A/H1N1 further adds to the economic woes of a number of countries and regions.
How to jointly control the epidemic and reduce its impact on the world economy
is another challenge facing the international community.

It is an urgent task to cope with the flu to serve
the world economy in an overall and efficient manner. Since it struck Mexico in
mid-April, the epidemic has inflicted prominent fluctuations on the world's main
stock and foreign exchange markets as well as staple commodities like petroleum.

The shock wave can also be felt in some countries'
real economic sectors like tourism, food and transportation. The world economy
is bound to face more grave challenges as long as the flu remains unchecked.

In coping with flu epidemics to protect the world
economy, mankind has both experience and lessons. Historically, we see that the
world economy could be badly wrecked by not only problems like financial and
economic crises but also diseases, wars and environmental deterioration.

The spread of diseases can use up tremendous medical
resources and result in the contraction of production and economic circulation.
Therefore, it is economically significant to effectively put influenza A/H1N1
under control.

Specific measures should be taken to tackle the
epidemic. First, the international community should conduct effective
cooperation to boost public confidence. Only when they have strong confidence
would investors and consumers expand investment and consumption to promote
economic growth. Confidence is needed in fighting both the financial crisis and
the current flu epidemic.

Second, we should handle the flu in a scientific and
proper manner to minimize its impact on international investment. Although the
flu has produced negative impact on the world economy as Joaquin Almunia,
commissioner for economic and monetary affairs of the European Commission, has
said, the international community has accumulated richer knowledge and expertise
in preventing and controlling viruses than before.

In addition, governments have better capabilities in
organizing and mobilizing social resources to deal with epidemics, making them
possible to take scientific, appropriate and farsighted measures to tackle the
flu, which in turn benefits the stability and development of the economy.

With the spread of influenza A/H1N1, the world must
also be alert to protectionism which may arise under the pretext of safeguarding
public health security, since the flu may stir worries over the safety of
products from some virus-hit countries. Necessary restrictive trade measures
should be based upon adequate medical proof.

To tackle the current financial crisis, the
international community has agreed to jointly overcome the hard times, which is
in sharp contrast to what happened in the Great Depression when some countries
implemented extreme selfish policies.

As long as countries continue to boost confidence and
cooperation, people are bound to see the light at the end of the tunnel soon in
both efforts to fight influenza A/H1N1 and secure economic recovery.