Foreign Ministry spokesman: China's epidemic prevention and control policies are scientific, effective and stand the test of history

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China’s epidemic prevention and control policy is scientific, effective, in line with China’s national conditions and has stood the test of history, Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said at a regular press conference on the 10th in response to questions about the issue.

“It is because of the adherence to the general policy of ‘dynamic clearance’ in the past period, we have avoided the more virulent strains such as Delta, minimized the rate of serious illness and mortality caused by new coronavirus infections, and maximized the protection of people’s life safety and health. ” Wang Wenbin said.

“It is because of the adherence to the general policy of ‘dynamic clearance’ in the past period that we have won valuable time for advancing vaccination.” Wang Wenbin said that as of Jan. 4, 2023, China had reported a cumulative total of 3.48 billion doses of NCC vaccine, with a total of 130,986,000 vaccinated, and had completed the full course of vaccination of 127,585,000 people, covering 92.9 percent of the country’s total population, effectively reducing the NCC revalidity rate.

In the past three years, China’s economy has maintained an average annual growth rate of about 4.5 percent, significantly higher than the world average, making an important contribution to global economic growth. During the most stressful phase of the global epidemic fight, China became the backbone of the global supply of anti-epidemic materials, providing solid protection for countries around the world in fighting the epidemic and playing an irreplaceable and important role in the stability of the global industrial chain supply chain.

“We have always upheld the concept of people first and life first, and optimized epidemic prevention measures with scientific precision.” In response to the remarks of individual Western dignitaries who tried to politicize the new crown epidemic, Wang Wenbin pointed out that any political manipulation would pale in comparison with the prevention and control results achieved by the Chinese side.

In response to a question about the stability of the international industrial chain supply chain, Wang Wenbin said that against the background of increasing downward pressure on the world economy and weakening global trade momentum, China has played a key role as a “stabilizer” in the global industrial chain supply chain by actively expanding its openness and providing quality products and services to the world. China’s total foreign trade will increase to US$6.9 trillion in 2021, remaining the world’s largest. From January to November last year, China’s import and export of goods grew by 8.6 percent year-on-year, including an 11.9 percent increase in exports, making outstanding contributions to the stability of the world economy and the development of global trade.

Wang Wenbin said that after the Chinese government optimally adjusted the epidemic prevention and control measures, the heads of international organizations, including the WTO and OECD, are generally optimistic about China’s economic development prospects, which will help support the recovery and development of the world economy. Recently, several international investment institutions have raised their forecasts for China’s economic growth in 2023, and many foreign chambers of commerce in China believe that the measures will reinvigorate confidence in investment and business and restore market optimism, and that China will continue to be a priority investment destination for foreign investors. A Bank of America survey showed that the proportion of fund managers who believe China’s economy will grow at a higher rate recently rose from 13 percent last November to about 75 percent today.

Wang Wenbin said the overall situation in China is now improving, with many Chinese provinces and cities having passed the peak of the epidemic and production and life accelerating back to normal. With the gradual rebound in demand and policy effects, China’s economic and social vitality will be further released, bringing greater opportunities for countries around the world. The role of China as the world’s economic recovery “stabilizer” and growth “engine” will be further highlighted.