Xi Jinping defends China's zero-Covid policy amid Shanghai lockdown to curb surge in cases
India Today
On Friday, China's National Health Commission (NHC) reported over 24,100 coronavirus cases, including 22,648 asymptomatic, in the country.
Defending his country's stringently implemented zero-COVID policy amid a huge surge of coronavirus cases in Shanghai and other cities, Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday said China's targeted and effective COVID-19 prevention and control measures ensured the safe and smooth hosting of Winter Olympics.
"Against the background of the COVID-19 pandemic that rages across the world, we have put first the health of all participants, adhered to the policy of preventing the coronavirus from re-entering the country to cause a new epidemic, and strictly implemented the prevention and control measures," Xi said.
Addressing a gathering to honour those who have made outstanding contributions to the Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter Games and Paralympic Winter Games, he asserted that China's anti-COVID policy has once again withstood the test of time, contributing useful experience for the world to fight against the virus and host major international events.
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"As some foreign athletes have said, if there was a gold medal for responding to the pandemic, then China deserves it," Xi said.
Under the dynamic zero-Covid policy, China has drastically cut international travel by cancelling visas and restricting flights since 2020.
He also attributed the success to the prudent management of the events by the ruling Communist Party of China (CPC) saying that the party is the most reliable backbone for the Chinese people to make great achievements.
