China Development Research Foundation   |   中文   |   Register   |   Login
Time:November 11-13, 2020
Beijing Diaoyutai State Guesthouse
Sponsor:Development Research Center of the State Council
Organiser:China Development Research Foundation
CDF WeChat
CDRF WeChat
CDRF Weibo
Latest from CDF Background Reports
Back to Latest from CDF List>

CDF Voice | Christian Mumenthaler,CEO of Swiss Re:We Have Witnessed China's Relentless Effort to Battle COVID-19

Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 epidemic, we’ve received video messages from CDF delegates who expressed their support to China.


Today’s video is from Christian Mumenthaler,CEO of Swiss Reinsurance.


He said that “We have full confidence that China is well positioned to achieve long-term growth. CDF remains one of our most important platforms. I look forward to visiting China soon to meet both old and new friends.”


As China faces the outbreak of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), Swiss Re quickly took actions. The Swiss Re Group and the Swiss Re Foundation has approved a donation of USD200 K to Hubei Charity Federation, for purchasing urgently needed medical supplies for frontline medical staff of the Leishenshan hospital in Wuhan.


Swiss Re also donated 2,000 masks to CDRF to support relief efforts in impoverished rural areas by providing urgently needed protective supplies to local medical staff. The donated masks by Swiss Re will be shipped  and distributed to medical staff in Ningqiang County, Shaanxi Province.



The following is the full speech.


We at Swiss Re and our colleagues in China have witnessed the relentless effort of the Chinese people and government to battle the outbreak of the novel coronavirus.


I'd especially like to extend our heartfelt recognition and appreciation to the frontline medical staff, who have been working around the clock both in Wuhan and across the country. I wish the affected people and communities a speedy recovery.


For Swiss Re, China is one of our most important markets. We've had a long-standing relationship going back nearly 90 years.


In these challenging times, as China faces the outbreak of the novel coronavirus, we offer our support to the Chinese people. Taking action, Swiss Re employees in China have been making donations to the relief efforts on the ground. The Swiss Re Group has also approved a donation for purchasing urgently needed medical supplies for the courageous medical staff on the frontline in Wuhan.


But the measures to control the spread of the virus, inevitably also impact the day-to-day life in China and its economy. Although the consequences may cause a temporary impact for China's economy, we believe economic fundamentals remain solid. We have full confidence that China is well positioned to achieve long-term growth.


And, while it's unfortunate that the CDF 2020 has been delayed, it remains one of our most important platforms. I fully understand and support the decision to postpone CDF 2020 to a later date. I look forward to visiting China soon to meet both old and new friends.


My colleagues recently shared with me a few lines which are currently popular in China: "No winter lasts forever, and no spring skips its turn." These are words of wisdom I think we can all embrace. With that, my best wishes again to the optimistic and tenacious people in Wuhan.


Wuhan Jiayou!Zhongguo  Jiayou!