New Year remarks are his most frank public comments so far on the reversal of China's zero-Covid policy. Read more at straitstimes.com.
BEIJING – President Xi Jinping said China has entered a new phase in its fight against the coronavirus and tough challenges remain, his most frank public comments on the reversal of the zero-Covid policy that has resulted in nationwide outbreaks and tested the health system and economy.
China’s sudden exit from zero-Covid – which for almost three years had required mass testing, snap lockdowns and mostly closed borders – has sparked a surge of infections. China’s economy has “enjoyed sound development,” Mr Xi said. Gross domestic product exceeded 120 trillion yuan this year, according to Mr Xi, suggesting the economy grew at least 4.4 per cent in 2022. Analysts had forecast growth to slow to 3 per cent this year.
Earlier this month, Mr Xi’s government abruptly started dismantling its strict policy, leading to outbreaks in Beijing, Shanghai and several other major cities and provinces.The result has been busy hospital emergency rooms and crematoriums. The nation could see as many as 25,000 deaths a day from Covid-19 in January, according to Airfinity, a London-based research firm that focuses on predictive health analytics.