China Announces Series of Large-Scale Events... A Sign of Overcoming COVID-19? (Comprehensive)

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Beijing=Special Correspondent Park Sun-mi] China is showing confidence in overcoming COVID-19 as it finalizes the schedule for large-scale events that were postponed due to the spread of the virus.

Hong Kong's South China Morning Post (SCMP) reported on the 26th that the "China Food and Beverage & Alcohol Expo" will be held in Chengdu from May 21 to 23. This expo scheduled for May is the first international expo to be held in China since COVID-19.

The expo was originally scheduled to take place over three days from March 26 to 28 but was temporarily postponed due to COVID-19. Last year, about 4,000 companies from over 40 countries participated in this expo, and it is the largest food and beverage & alcohol expo held in China, attracting around 400,000 visitors.

The China Import and Export Fair (Canton Fair), China’s largest trade fair, which was originally scheduled for April 15 but postponed due to the spread of COVID-19, is also likely to be held in May.

Although the exact date for the Canton Fair has not yet been confirmed or announced, rumors are spreading in the export industry that the Guangdong provincial government is discussing with the central government of China to hold the fair in May. Nearly 200 countries and regions and close to 200,000 foreign buyers participate in the Canton Fair.

Before the large-scale expos, there is also a possibility that China’s largest political event, the Two Sessions (Lianghui - the National People's Congress and the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference), will be held at the end of April. For the large-scale events that have been postponed to be held one after another starting in May, President Xi Jinping may first officially declare the end of COVID-19 and commend those who contributed to the COVID-19 response during the Two Sessions.

In Beijing’s political circles, there is talk that the Two Sessions, originally scheduled for early this month but postponed due to the spread of COVID-19, may be held within next month. Rumors are also spreading that at the recent Politburo Standing Committee meeting of the Communist Party’s top leadership, preparatory work was discussed to hold the Two Sessions around the 18th of next month.

Recently, the Beijing government strengthened entry management to block inbound COVID-19 cases, which can be interpreted as creating an environment to hold the Two Sessions in Beijing next month.

Meanwhile, the COVID-19 situation in China is showing signs of stabilization, with no new domestic infections and only additional cases of overseas imported infections. There is strong confidence that overseas imported cases can be controlled through the government’s strengthened entry management. On the 25th, China reported 67 new confirmed COVID-19 cases and 6 deaths in one day; all 67 new confirmed cases were recorded as overseas imported cases infected outside China.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.