2020 IN HINDSIGHT

Wuhan Blue Sky Rescue Team carries out thorough cleaning and disinfection of Wuhan Theater，which was closed after the coronavirus outbreak，on May 5，2020，before its reopening．（ZHAO JUN）

The end of the year is often a popular time for people to look back and reflect．Many agree that 2020 has been a tough year，considering the spread of the novel coronavirus around the world．No one was prepared for life-and-death separations，but we have learned to better look out for each other and support each other while finding ways to cope．We witnessed frontline responders and volunteers placing themselves in harm's way with courage and resilience．We are fully confident that we will achieve final victory in the battle against the virus.

This has been a special year in which impossible missions have been accomplished and miracles have resulted in historic records．The virus changed lifestyles，but it has failed to diminish the passion and strength to make joint efforts for a better life．We choose to believe that the sun will still shine and humanity will continue to prosper with love after victory over the pandemic．We are confident that we will work together to tackle all difficulties and obstacles to revive the world and welcome a post-pandemic era of new development.

The year 2020 will definitely be remembered as extraordinary.

Global Fight Against COVID-19

A grain of ash of the times landing on an individual can feel like a mountain．The outbreak of the pandemic caused unbearable sufferings for countless families．Before 2020，terms such as “lockdown”were obscure，and “social distancing”didn’t mean anything．At 10 a.m．on January 23，the city of Wuhan went under lockdown with unprecedented travel restrictions including suspension of buses，subways，ferries，long-distance buses，and all outbound flights and trains，to contain the spread of the coronavirus．The city was squeezed by tremendous pressure，and the whole country mobilized to join the battle against the virus.

Healthcare workers and emergency responders from across China rushed to the frontline with courage and a sense of responsibility．The first medical assistance team arrived in Wuhan on the evening of January 24，the eve of the Chinese New Year（Spring Festival）．Over the next 40 days，346 more teams with a total of 42，600 medical workers arrived in Wuhan and other parts of Hubei Province．On April 8，travel restrictions in Wuhan were lifted．At midnight on May 7，all medium and high-risk regions of infection in the country saw their risk level downgraded to the lowest level.

China will not forget that Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen visited China soon after the outbreak of the epidemic to offer sympathy and support，Mongolian President Khaltmaagiin Battulga visited China at the critical stage of epidemic control to donate 30，000 sheep on behalf of Mongolia，and leaders of ASEAN member states expressed support for China with messages and donations of preventative supplies．China expressed its appreciation through action，providing financial support to the World Health Organization and the UN COVID-19 Global Humanitarian Response Plan，organizing more than 100 video conferences to share experience on COVID-19 response with experts of other countries，and joining the COVID-19 Vaccine Global Access Facility to promote equitable distribution of vaccines around the world.

In the spirit of solidarity and mutual assistance，the Chinese people have joined hands with the people of other countries，including overseas Chinese，to cope with the challenges，which has enhanced friendship．In the post-pandemic era，some new words and expressions coined last year will become part of our daily vocabulary．Things will never go back to exactly the way they were before.

Adapting to Unprecedented Change

Calling major infectious diseases the common enemy of all mankind，Chinese President Xi Jinping stressed that “solidarity and cooperation are our most powerful weapons to defeat the virus.”

The year of 2020 will soon be over．The coronavirus is still infecting hundreds of thousands and killing more than ten thousand around the world every day．Meanwhile，unilateralism，protectionism，and acts of bullying remain rampant．Some are concerned whether the world will devolve back to the age of fists，hegemony，and power politics．The outbreak of the pandemic exerted a major impact around the world．Chinese President Xi Jinping has carried out intensive head-of-state diplomacy with global vision and sense of responsibility．His efforts have built global consensus on leveraging international cooperation to fight the virus.

As the leader of a major country，Xi demonstrated determination and courage in times of crisis．Throughout the year，he made one overseas trip，hosted seven visits by foreign leaders and ceremonial activities in China，made 80 phone calls with foreign leaders or heads of international organizations，and attended 22 important diplomatic activities through innovative “cloud diplomacy.”

On April 14，Chinese Premier Li Keqiang attended the Special ASEAN Plus Three（APT）Summit on COVID-19．The meeting called on regional countries to meet challenges by supporting each other to dispel the gloom of the pandemic as early as possible，which boosted confidence in the region and international community.

During the year，President Xi stalwartly reiterated China's stance on safeguarding world peace and stability and promoting global governance system reform at multilateral forums such as the UN General Assembly，G20 Summit，Shanghai Cooperation Organization Summit，BRICS Summit，and APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting．His statements clearly indicate China's advocacy．Here are some examples:

“China has put people and life above everything else in the fight against the virus.”

“Meeting challenges through cooperation is the only way forward for the international community.”

“Global governance should follow the principles of extensive consultation，joint contribution，and shared benefits.”

“Major countries should lead by example.”

“Unilateralism will get us nowhere.”

“We oppose attempts to politicize the pandemic or mislabel the coronavirus and will jointly resist any ‘political virus.’”

“Using the pandemic to pursue de-globalization will ultimately harm one's own interests as well as the common interests of all countries.”

Resuming Global Economic Growth

The world economy has been struggling with the ravaging pandemic．However，the pandemic did not cut off the economic and trade links between China and the rest of the world thanks to connectivity of air transport，internet economics，online forums，cross-border e-commerce，and continuation of overseas Chinese cooperation projects.

As the global economy grapples with the worst recession since World War II，Belt and Road cooperation has shown strong resilience as an important platform for China to create new opportunities，find new impetus，and expand space for development.

Much has been achieved this year．China-ASEAN trade has been expanding despite the headwinds．China-Europe freight trains have served as a “lifeline”for anti-pandemic cooperation．Construction of such major projects as the China-Laos Railway and the Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway has been moving forward steadily．A commercial contract was signed on construction of a China-Philippines intergovernmental cooperation project on three bridges in Metro Manila．For people in the countries along the Belt and Road，infrastructure projects provide access to not only water and electricity，but also preventative supplies，jobs，and hope for the future.

China did not shut doors during the pandemic，but has steadfastly continued opening wider to the outside world．During the year，it hosted the China International Fair for Trade in Services，the China Export Commodities Fair，the China International Import Expo，and the China-ASEAN Expo as scheduled．It signed the China-EU Agreement on Geographical Indications and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement，and considered joining the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership．It creatively set up a “fast track”to enhance mobility and a “green lane”to accelerate flow of goods．It enacted the Foreign Investment Law and relevant regulations and further shortened the negative list for foreign investment．It opened more pilot free trade zones for global business and released a Master Plan on Building Hainan Free Trade Port.

In a June 11 phone conversation with Philippine President Rodrigo Roa Duterte，President Xi Jinping elaborated on his dialectical viewpoints on the pandemic.

“This pandemic has been a crisis，”he said．“But it is important for us to explore new opportunities in challenging times and make new advances amid changes.”

Reshaping Lifestyles

The COVID lockdown has changed ways of living．Many people have become accustomed to working online from home．The shift online has occurred in almost all sectors of society from offices and classrooms to medical providers，entertainment，tourism，real estate，manufacturing，and catering．Everyone began turning to the cloud for solutions.

During the pandemic，children resumed classes online to maintain contact with “anchor”teachers，while online education platforms seized the opportunity to start livestreaming courses for free to attract potential customers．Fresh food e-commerce platforms became so popular that they had to hire shared employees to help with the workload．Some who were temporarily laid off were recruited as delivery drivers．In this special year，traditional offline businesses such as real estate，automobile sales，catering，tourism，and entertainment successively shifted online through livestreaming and other means.

Online lifestyles ensure safety，but with regret．Many weddings，sports events，and concerts had to be canceled．These changes，however，cannot last forever．For example，a live opera performance by students at China University of Political Science and Law was canceled during the pandemic but still broadcast online．When students returned to campus for in-person classes，they also went back to the stage to participate in live performances.

At the end of 2020，China，the country with a fifth of the world's population，accomplished its goal of winning the battle against poverty．China published a report on the process of its poverty alleviation to share its experience with the world.

The year 2020 was a time for us to engage in unforgettable episodes．As it goes into the books，everyone is eager to welcome a different year.

Y-20 and other transport aircraft from the PLA Air Force are deployed to transport military medical teams and supplies to Wuhan，Hubei Province，to fight COVID-19．（ZHOU GUOQIANG）

Two medical workers from Qinghai Province rest after discharging the last COVID-19 patients with mild symptoms from Wuhan's Wuchang Quarantine Hospital on March 10，2020．Medical workers from different regions of China provided mutual assistance in the fight against COVID-19．（FEI MAOHUA）

Volunteers work on a bus-turned-delivery vehicle for daily necessities for Wuhan residents in isolation during the coronavirus outbreak on February 20，2020．（AI MIN）

The quarantine hospital at Wuhan Sports Center，built to admit COVID-19 patients with mild symptoms，is cleaned and disinfected before closing on March 8，2020．Quarantine hospitals played a critical role in curbing the spread of the virus．（XIAO YIJIU）

A construction worker receives a COVID-19 antibody test in Wuhan on April 7，2020．Pandemic prevention and control has become the norm for business operations．（SHI WEI）

A livestream crew prepares to sell online from Shanghai New World Daimaru Department Store on March 20，2020．COVID-19 has changed ways of life.（FANG ZHE）

Tourists flood the snack-stall covered streets of Chengdu，capital of Sichuan Province，during the Qingming public holiday on April 5，2020．Life has returned to normal with routine prevention and control measures in place.（HUA XIAOFENG）