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Chinese President Xi Jinping said in his New Year’s speech on Saturday that “persistence and solidarity” will help the country deal with the surge of COVID-19. File photo by Mark Cristino/EPA-EFE
December 31 (United Press International) — Chinese President Xi Jinping In his New Year’s address on Saturday, he called for unity and perseverance as the nation battles another Coronavirus disease Chung.
His speech coincided with the Beijing substantially relax Its long-standing zero-COVID policy has been rolled out in recent weeks. The country has since seen a surge in cases, with hospitals overwhelmed and mortuaries struggling to cope as the death toll mounted.
exist addressXi Jinping praised China’s medical staff and grassroots cadres for “sticking to their posts through wind and rain.”
“At present, the prevention and control of the epidemic has entered a new stage,” he said optimistically. “Everyone is persevering and there is a ray of hope ahead.”
An estimated 250 million people were infected in the first 20 days of December, and China stopped reporting asymptomatic cases. People using home rapid antigen tests are no longer obliged to report positive results.
Beijing says it won’t quarantine traveler Arrivals in mainland China began on January 8, another big step towards lifting its “zero COVID” lockdown policy.
Xi Jinping also spoke enthusiastically about the country’s economy in a New Year’s message, which he said grown up At least 4.4% in 2022.
“The Chinese economy continues to be the second largest in the world and maintains good development,” he said. “The Chinese economy has strong resilience, great potential and strong vitality.”
His forecast comes after newly released data showing China’s manufacturing activity zoom out December marks the third consecutive month.
Referring to Taiwan, Xi said the peoples of the two countries were “one family” and expressed the hope that they would work together to “jointly promote lasting prosperity”.
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