Copy Reference “No victory should be lightly announced until there is a complete win,” Chinese President Xi Jinping on February 23 stressed unremitting efforts in the prevention and control of COVID-19 epidemic and coordination in advancing economic and social development. He made the remarks when delivering an important speech at a meeting in Beijing.
Since the outbreak of COVID-19, the CPC Central Committee has attached great importance to epidemic control, with General Secretary Xi paying constant attention to the situation, making the epidemic prevention and control the most important task, and personally directing the work and making arrangements.
In his meeting with World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Dr. Tedros on January 28, Xi said that people's lives and physical health are always the first priority, and prevention and control of the virus is the most important task. Xi said: “I have personally been directing the effort and deploying resources, I believe that as long as we strengthen our confidence, help each other, control and prevent the virus appropriately, and implement policies precisely, we will definitely overcome this disease.”
Under the leadership of President Xi, the Chinese government immediately set up a nationwide mechanism to mobilize resources from across the country to fight the epidemic. Chinese government has taken the most comprehensive, stringent and thorough prevention and control measures, many of which are well beyond what is required by the International Health Regulations and the recommendations of WHO.
Through arduous efforts, the epidemic is generally under control. Positive signs continue to emerge. Facts and data show that China's decisive response is both right and effective. As President Xi Jinping points out, we have the confidence, capability and determination to prevail over the virus at an early date.
To Win in the Name of People
China must rely on the people to win the battle against the novel coronavirus epidemic, President Xi Jinping said on January 27.
Chinese people now realize that they have a key part to play in the war against the virus, and they are ready to shoulder their responsibilities. With the war now evolving into campaigns in communities, villages, townships, counties and cities, the tasks become more specific and concrete—ranging from quarantining and treating suspected infected residents in a timely manner to taking care of others—while maintaining the normal operations of different sectors, particularly those related to research on the virus and medical equipment industries.
Xi made the remarks in his instruction to Party organizations, members and officials, asking them to unite the people in resolutely implementing the decisions and arrangements of the CPC Central Committee.
Party organizations and members at the primary level should play the vanguard roles to broadly mobilize, organize and unite the people in joint prevention and control to fortify a strong defense by mass participation, Xi instructed.
In Wuhan, the epicenter, more than 34,000 officials, government workers and Party members have been mobilized to go into its 1,100 communities to fight the epidemic. The CPC Wuhan Municipal Committee said on February 11 that the figure included 16,700 employees of government units and state-owned enterprises, who joined the teams of community workers in neighborhoods hit by the virus. Working at their side will be another 17,700 Party members, who will extend their reach to all communities and villages.
China must rely on the people to win the battle against the virus, Xi said, stressing keeping in mind the people's interests are the highest priority in the current arduous battle.
Priority Set on Biosafety Reform
In remarks delivered at a meeting of the CPC Central Committee for deepening overall reform on February 7, Xi underlined the importance of innovating and improving prevention and control measures for major outbreaks at the institutional level and bolstering the country's capacity for coping with major public health incidents.
Biological safety must be included in the national security system, and the country must systematically plan prevention and control measures for biosafety risks and improve governance capacities in this regard, said Xi.
The fact that some of the first infected cases had been exposed to Wuhan's Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market, where an illegal wildlife trade operated, has triggered public outcry and a government ban on wildlife trade.
“We have long realized the high risks of eating wildlife, but the trade is still large in scale, which has posed a major risk to the safety of public health,” Xi said in a speech on February 3. “We cannot afford any more inaction.”
The country must step up market regulation, resolutely crack down on illegal wildlife markets and trade, get rid of the practice of eating wildlife and control major public health risks from the very source, he added.
The Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, China's top legislature, had already started the first reading of a draft of the Law on Biological Safety in October 2019. In his recent remarks, Xi urged a quicker process to create the law.
Xi also highlighted the need for greater awareness of risk prevention, saying that the coordinated mechanism for judging, evaluating, decision-making and prevention and control for major risks in public health must be refined.
The country must reform its control, prevention and disease treatment mechanism for major contagions, improve its emergency response mechanism and establish a centralized and efficient command system, he said.
Xi noted in his speech on February 3 that the epidemic has also exposed a severe shortage in key epidemic prevention materials, such as protective gowns, in the national reserve. He added that improvements to the national reserve system must be made to optimize its categories, scale and structure, and more efforts must be made to ensure the production capacity for key materials for emergency response and to balance regional distribution to ensure an adequate supply in crucial periods.
Seeking to Boost Economy
While achieving victory over virus, President Xi called to get economy on sound footing.
On February 23 Xi delivered a speech at the meeting on coordinating the prevention and control of novel coronavirus pneumonia and economic and social development. He set out eight requirements, including taking more targeted tax-cut measures and stabilizing employment, to resume the nation's economic activities in an orderly way.
The high-profile meeting, in the form of a tele-conference, was attended by officials from county-level Party and government organizations and above from across the nation.
It is inevitable that the disease will largely affect China's economy and society, so it is crucial to boost confidence at this time and judge the country's economic outlook from a long-term perspective, Xi said.
The good economic outlook of China's economy is not changed from a long-term view, and the disease's impact is temporary and controllable, Xi added.
China's challenges are also the world's. Production delays in China could unnerve overseas manufacturers as they suffer from temporary supply chain disruptions. It is an urgent task for the international community to make joint efforts in fighting the epidemic and providing support for the steady growth of international trade and economic growth.
The restart of the “World's Factory” and “World's Market” will reactivate the global industrial chain, relieve pressure on the world economy and safeguard the common interests of the global community.
In the meeting Xi required the officials to make more targeted policies on tax-reduction and more flexible monetary policies to help small and medium-sized companies overcome their difficulties.
Step by step, the resilience of the Chinese economy will be demonstrated, boding well for global growth.
In Wuhan, the epicenter, more than 34,000 officials, government workers and Party members have been mobilized to go into its 1,100 communities to fight the epidemic. The CPC Wuhan Municipal Committee said on February 11 that the figure included 16,700 employees of government units and state-owned enterprises, who joined the teams of community workers in neighborhoods hit by the virus. Working at their side will be another 17,700 Party members, who will extend their reach to all communities and villages.
Chinese President Xi Jinping checks the treatment of hospitalized patients via a video link at the monitoring center at Beijing Ditan Hospital in Beijing on February 10.
Chinese President Xi Jinping talks to medical staff on duty via a video link at the monitoring center at Beijing Ditan Hospital in Beijing on February 10.
Chinese President Xi Jinping visits Anhuali Community, Chaoyang District, Beijing, on February 10 to inspect epidemic prevention and control work at the community level.