China consolidates epidemic prevention and control
A staff member checks the information of passengers entering China at the Pudong International Airport in Shanghai, March 19. Photo: Ding Ting/XINHUA
Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, on March 18 chaired a leadership meeting to analyze COVID-19 epidemic prevention and control as well as economic development at home and abroad.
The meeting also made arrangements for coordinating epidemic prevention and control with the key work of economic and social development.
Xi said the positive trend in preventing and controlling the epidemic has been constantly consolidated and expanded, and the restoration of normal production and everyday life has been quickened.
However, new situations and problems, especially the overseas spread of the virus and its negative impacts on the world economy, have brought new challenges, he said.
Zhi Zhenfeng, a research fellow with the Institute of Law at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS), said that epidemic prevention and control work has entered a new phase. With huge efforts and sacrifices, our country now sees barely any new domestic cases, while an increase in imported cases has posed severe challenges. Firm protection of the hard-won achievements gained in the previous stage has become the most essential task at present. In addition, how to scientifically resume work and production is also an important issue facing current epidemic prevention and control.
Domestic demand, investment and production are especially important for meeting this year’s economic and social development targets, said Chen Shiyi, a professor at Fudan University. Chen suggested taking advantage of the achievement of general containment by implementing targeted policies according to the varying risks in each region, aiming to resume work and production in the shortest time and to the maximum extent. The basis of China’s microeconomy, small- and medium-sized enterprises contribute greatly to employment, tax revenue and innovation. As such, we need to pay special attention to their work resumption.
Chen Qiulin, director of the Division of Social Security of the Institute of Population and Labor Economics at CASS, said that work will be gradually resumed in Wuhan, while in the rest of Hubei control measures will be relaxed in an orderly manner. While preventing and controlling the epidemic, it is necessary to maintain foreign trade and keep the international supply chain smooth.
The virus knows no national boundaries, said Lin Shengdong, a professor from the School of Journalism and Communication at Xiamen University. We should cooperate closely with the WHO and other governments and provide continuous assistance to other countries as much as we can.
Chen Qiulin said that academic research can also contribute to coping with the epidemic and advancing future institutional reforms. The government should organize specialists in medicine, public management, journalism and international relations to analyze the results of different prevention and control strategies and to study corresponding response plans. In terms of research methods, Chen suggested conducting more online observation and investigation and making full use of big data.
edited by NIU XIAOQIAN