Buhari pledges Nigerian support for joint action plan against COVID-19 at China-Africa summit

　　ABUJA, June 18 (Xinhua) -- Nigeria would support and join any collective action plan at regional and global levels to tackle the COVID-19 pandemic and its fallout, Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari told an Africa-China summit held Wednesday via video link.

　　"As we face a common pervasive and invisible enemy, it is important that we all remain united to save our shared humanity, because this virus knows no borders," Buhari said at the Extraordinary China-Africa Summit on Solidarity against COVID-19 chaired by Chinese President Xi Jinping.

　　"The fight against a global pandemic, which continues to take so many lives, threaten livelihoods and challenge the very fabric of societies, requires enhanced cooperation and worldwide solidarity," he said.

　　The Nigerian leader used the occasion to commend UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Chinese government for their respective actions and measures to help developing countries in Africa to tackle the pandemic.

　　The president praised the UN secretary-general for launching COVID-19 Response and Recovery Fund for low and middle-income countries to deal with the health emergency, address social and economic consequences of the crisis, and strengthen the recovery efforts of most vulnerable countries.

　　He also applauded the WHO leadership for its advice that enabled Nigeria to take measures and enlighten its people on steps to avoid contracting and spreading the virus.

　　Furthermore, Buhari said that the Chinese support has tremendously strengthened Nigeria's effort in combating COVID-19, adding that China's strong support has further demonstrated the spirit of solidarity and enhanced the partnership that already exists among members of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC).

　　"In the spirit of international collaboration, medical experts in Nigeria participated by video link in learning and experience-sharing exercises organized by experts from various countries, including China," he added. Enditem