Xi Jinping: "The Peak of COVID-19 Has Passed... An Opportunity for Scientific and Technological Advancement Amid Crisis"

[Asia Economy Beijing=Special Correspondent Park Sun-mi] From March 29 to April 1, Chinese President Xi Jinping, who conducted an inspection tour in Zhejiang Province, China, emphasized efforts for COVID-19 control and economic and social development. As the COVID-19 outbreak has passed its peak, he expressed his determination to achieve both COVID-19 control and economic development simultaneously.

On April 2, the Chinese Communist Party's official newspaper, People's Daily, covered President Xi's Zhejiang inspection on its front page. People's Daily stated that the main purpose of President Xi's inspection was to check the status of COVID-19 control and the resumption of economic activities. After visiting Ningbo Zhoushan Port, an automobile parts manufacturing industrial complex, Hangzhou Xixi National Wetland Park, and the Urban Brain Operation Command Center in sequence, President Xi announced in the work report on the last day that the COVID-19 outbreak had passed its peak.

President Xi said, "After hard efforts, China's COVID-19 prevention and control has continuously improved, and the peak period of the virus outbreak in China has already passed." However, he added, "Although the peak has passed, there is a trend of virus spread outside China, and the risk of overseas re-importation has greatly increased." He urged strict adherence to prevention measures until the end and constant vigilance against COVID-19, instructing, "Manage asymptomatic infections thoroughly and strengthen various inspections."

President Xi emphasized that even amid the COVID-19 crisis, there are definitely opportunities that can benefit the Chinese economy. He said, "Crisis and opportunity always coexist. We must overcome the crisis and seize the opportunity," and explained, "The spread of COVID-19 has severely impacted international trade activities, and the Chinese economy faces new challenges. However, at the same time, new opportunities have emerged to accelerate scientific development and advance industrial upgrading."

He instructed efforts to smoothly manage the global supply chain for the normalization of China's economic and trade activities and to strengthen analysis of the international situation to prepare tailored measures. He also ordered seizing opportunities for industrial digitalization and promoting infrastructure construction such as 5G networks and data centers. He urged accelerating development in strategic emerging industries, including the digital economy, healthcare services, new materials, and future industries.

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