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China gives clearest sign yet it will stick with zero-Covid strategy
- Public had expected shift away from stringent Covid-19 measures after 20th party congress
- However, People’s Daily commentary signals leaders are determined to continue pandemic controls after pivotal political meeting this month
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Zhuang Pinghuiin Beijing
For the second day in a row, Communist Party mouthpiece People’s Daily urged China to stick with its zero-Covid strategy, dampening hopes that controls would ease after a pivotal political meeting this month.
The commentary is the clearest sign yet that the party is determined to continue with the stringent zero-Covid approach after its twice-a-decade national congress, which starts this Sunday. On Monday, the newspaper called for confidence and patience with the zero-Covid strategy, which aims to cut all virus transmission chains.
Chinese President Xi Jinping has been portrayed by state media as leading a national pandemic control effort that has resulted in few deaths. He has staked considerable political capital on the purported superiority of China’s handling of the pandemic compared with the West.
The public and some investors had hoped for a shift, however slight, from the present measures after the 20th party congress, where Xi is expected to secure a precedent-breaking third term as the party’s top leader.
According to Tuesday’s commentary, China’s dynamic zero-Covid approach has balanced pandemic control with economic and social development, allowing China to achieve “extremely low” mortality and “smooth” social and economic functioning.
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