A NEW world order is emerging in the midst of this global coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic. China was the first to experience the virus outbreak. On Jan. 23, 2020, Wuhan, a city of 11 million, was placed on lockdown — a first in the history of pandemics.

Eventually, 15 other cities of Hubei province were on lockdown, affecting about 57 million people.  Travel stopped and businesses, shops and factories were closed. The effect on China’s economy was devastating. Gross domestic product (GDP) fell from 6.2 percent pre-Covid, to -6.8 percent in the first quarter of 2020.