Amb. Cui Tiankai on coronavirus aid: "China cannot be safe" until the whole world is safe

| GZERO Media

Cui Tiankai, China's top diplomat in the U.S., says there is a lack of global coordination in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. While he praises international agencies like the World Health Organization and International Monetary Fund, Cui believes more needs to be done and for a wider swath of impacted nations. China, he says, is poised and ready to lead in aid and relief efforts on a global stage, and he urges the U.S. to also do its part.

The interview is part of a wide-ranging conversation looking back at the origins of the pandemic, the current situation in China, and the state of U.S.–China relations amid this global crisis. GZERO World with Ian Bremmer will devote an upcoming episode to the interview, as well as a look at China's growing importance in the global response to coronavirus. The program begins airing nationally on Friday, April 10, on U.S. public television. Check local listings, and follow GZEROMedia.com for more excerpts throughout the week.

More from GZERO Media

Five years ago, Microsoft set bold 2030 sustainability goals: to become carbon negative, water positive, and zero waste—all while protecting ecosystems. That commitment remains—but the world has changed, technology has evolved, and the urgency of the climate crisis has only grown. This summer, Microsoft launched the 2025 Environmental Sustainability Report, offering a comprehensive look at the journey so far, and how Microsoft plans to accelerate progress. You can read the report here.

Chinese President Xi Jinping, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin speak during a meeting at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Tianjin, China, on September 1, 2025.
Sputnik/Alexander Kazakov/Pool via REUTERS

The leaders of China, India, Russia, and over twenty countries from the “Global South” gathered in Beijing yesterday, marking another milestone away from the US-led global order. Several leaders will also attend a major Chinese military parade tomorrow.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen speaks during a press conference at Mihail Kogalniceanu Air Base, in Mihail Kogalniceanu, near Constanta, Romania September 1, 2025.
Inquam Photos/George Calin via REUTERS

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s plane lost GPS navigation while approaching Plovdiv, Bulgaria, on Sunday. Pilots circled for an hour before landing manually with paper maps.