The Chinese side expressed that since the outbreak of the pandemic, the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core has adhered to putting the people first and life first, and taken multiple measures to deal with the impact of the pandemic, safeguarding the life of hundreds of millions of people to the greatest extent possible and minimizing the impact of the pandemic on economic and social development. We have effectively handled more than a hundred cluster infections and successfully avoided widespread infections with the original strain and the Delta variant, which are relatively more pathogenic than the other variants. We have greatly reduced the number of severe cases and deaths, and bought precious time for the research, development and application of vaccines and therapeutics, and for getting medical supplies and other resources ready. Traditional Chinese medicine has played an important role in the pandemic prevention and control in China.

The Chinese side pointed out, China has been paying close attention to the mutation of the virus and changes in the pandemic situation, and has continued to refine the response measures in light of the evolving situation. At present, our focus is shifting from infection prevention and control to medical treatment, ensuring a smooth and orderly transition of prevention and control measures. In the new phase of pandemic response, we actively make adjustments to our response approaches, address the extraordinary difficulties with a coordinated approach, which is scientific, timely and necessary. We are urgently preparing medical resources; preventing in advance, focusing on key areas, key populations and key links; strengthening severe cases treatment, and making every effort to improve the treatment success rate.

The Chinese side noted, China has always been active in international cooperation to combat the pandemic, sharing information on the pandemic and experience in prevention and control with the World Health Organization (WHO) and all countries in a timely and adequate manner, and providing assistance, including vaccines and anti-pandemic supplies, for countries, especially the vast number of developing countries, within its capacity. China has provided hundreds of billions of anti-pandemic supplies for 153 countries and 15 international organizations, supplied more than 2.2 billion doses of the COVID-19 vaccine to more than 120 countries and international organizations, and co-organized over 300 technical exchange activities on pandemic prevention and control with more than 180 countries and regions and more than 10 international organizations worldwide. Foreign nationals in China are able to receive medical services that are consistent and equal to those provided for Chinese citizens. Solidarity and cooperation are the most powerful weapons for the international community to overcome the pandemic. China is willing to continuously follow a science-based response approach to face the pandemic with all parties and contribute to the building of a community with a shared future for mankind.

The Chinese side also responded to on-site questions from foreign diplomats in China including the adjustment of China’s inspection and quarantine policy, monitoring of virus mutation, vaccine development and vaccination, application of traditional Chinese medicine, communication with the WHO and foreign aid. The Chinese side noted, we have been monitoring the virus mutation dynamically and will continue to share information on virus mutation with the international community through various means.

Foreign diplomats in China thanked the IDCPC for organizing this briefing, congratulated the Chinese people on the great achievements under the CPC’s leadership in fighting the pandemic and maintaining economic and social development, and appreciated China’s active support and assistance to the international community in dealing with the challenges brought by the pandemic. They said China’s decision to adjust its pandemic prevention and control measures was made in light of the evolving situation, and believed that the adjusted measures will not only promote China’s economic and social development, but also benefit the wider international community and add new impetus to the world economy. They looked forward to continuing to strengthen cooperation with China in such fields as medicine and health.

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