A COVID-19 patient is transferred to a hospital in Daegu, South Korea. (Photo: AFP/VNA)

The event brought together more than 160 experts and media representatives from 48 countries and nine international organizations. A joint statement was released after the forum, saying viruses are the common enemy of mankind and that unity and cooperation are the most powerful weapons in overcoming the epidemic.

The statement also asked for international cooperation ans sharing of disease prevention, treatment regimen, and related research, in searching for equal access to healthcare services for all people of different societies and ethnicity. It urged for continued aids of manpower and material sources for developing countries to improve the resilience of their public health sector, push up economic recovery, and denounce all kinds of racism.