Chinese wants further global action on Ebola crisis

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi Thursday called on the international community to take further action in its fight against the Ebola epidemic, which has claimed more than 2,900 lives and continues to wreck havoc.

"Epidemic knows no borders, and Ebola is a common challenge for all countries around the world," Xinhua quoted Wang as saying as he made the appeal at a high-level meeting on the deadly epidemic at the UN General Assembly.

The situation of fighting against the Ebola epidemic remains grim, and it cannot be handled by the affected countries on their own, he said, calling on the international community to take further actions to build up confidence, stay united in adversity and adopt resolute measures to contain the epidemic.

"It is important that we offer timely and needed help," he said.

The Chinese minister proposed that all parties send more medical workers, experts and protection equipment to the affected areas to help treat the infected, build up the capacity of epidemic testing, and assist communities in disease prevention and control.

"It is important that we form synergy," Wang added. "We should support the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the United Nations in continuing with their roles of mobilizing global resources to combat the epidemic."

It is imperative to follow the WHO roadmap, and actively work with the UN Mission for Ebola Emergency Response, he added.

Over 2,900 people have been killed by the current Ebola outbreak, with the overwhelming majority of the deaths taking place in the three Western African countries of Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone, the WHO said in a report dated Wednesday.

The WHO Tuesday warned unless Ebola control measures in West Africa are enhanced quickly, more than 20,000 people will have been infected by early November.