Hong Kong-based CNN journalist Jenni Marsh reports on the prominent role that Africa played in Monday’s speech by Chinese President Xi Jinping to the World Health Assembly. Marsh, who’s covered China-Africa relations for years, notes that amid mounting anti-Chinese sentiment in Washington, Brussels, and Canberra, Beijing’s political ties with Africa are now more important than ever.

“As the coronavirus leaves China increasingly isolated on the world stage,” she wrote in a story published on CNN.com, “Xi’s speech made it clear how vital the support of African nations is to Beijing.”