The speech by President Xi Jinping at the 73rd session of the World Health Assembly, the decision-making body of the WHO, has won international applauseas world leaders called for solidarity in fighting COVID-19.

In his speech to the assembly on Monday, Xi outlined China's vision and support for the global fight against the novel coronavirus, which has infected more than 4.6 million people and killed more than 300,000 people worldwide.

Xi pledged that China will provide $2 billion over two years to help with COVID-19response and with economic and social development in affected countries, in particular developing nations.

"The message from President Xi Jinping has inspired us so much to fight thepandemic," Bounkong Syhavong, president of the 72nd session of the WHA,told the assembly, attended online by representatives from 194 member states.

The assembly elected Keva Bain, permanent representative of the Bahamas to the United Nations in Geneva, as the president of the 73rd session.

Five vice-presidents were also elected from China, Republic of Congo, San Marino, Sudanand Thailand, the WHO said on Monday.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel said virtually no country has been spared by the pandemic and no country can solve the problem alone.

"We must work together," she said.

Merkel said that the WHO is the legitimate world organization for the area of health, adding that the world should continue to work to improve procedures within the WHO and look at its financing to ensure it is sustainable.

The US government has halted most of its funding to the WHO, drawing widespread international condemnation.

"I am convinced that we will be able to overcome this pandemic when we work together, and that will help us to achieve this more rapidly," Merkel said.

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said that the pandemic has highlighted the dangerous and growing in equality that exists between countries and within them.

"Africais extremely vulnerable to the ravages of this virus, and needs every possible support and assistance," he said.

Ramaphosa, who is also chair of the African Union, said Africa affirms its full supportfor the WHO, which has been key in guiding the international response to the pandemic.

French President Emmanuel Macron called the 73rd session of the WHA the most important assembly in the history of the WHO.

"It must be a moment for unity and a moment for solidarity, but also a moment for clear thought and action in the face of what is an unprecedented global crisis affecting all of us," he said.