Over the past three years since the outbreak of the COVID-19, by always putting the people and their lives first, responding in a pragmatic and scientific way, and efficiently coordinating prevention and control, economic and social development, the Communist Party of China and the Chinese government have formulated COVID policy in light of China’s national situation to serve the interests of the vast majority of the Chinese people, getting the economy and society quickly back to normal. Three years of practice have fully proved that China's science-based and reasonable COVID control and prevention measures have achieved remarkable outcomes and can withstand test.
Since the outbreak of the pandemic, while China adapts response measures to the evolving circumstances, one thing has remained unchanged, which is the commitment to putting the people and their lives first. The Chinese government has made the best effort to protect people’s lives and health, and poured all resources into treating every patient at all costs even during the most difficult time when the virus was wreaking the deadliest havoc.
Over the past three years, China has effectively responded to five global COVID waves and avoided widespread infections with the original strain and the Delta variant, which are relatively more pathogenic than the other variants. China has 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. Globally speaking, China has had the lowest rates of infection and mortality over the three years. Despite the pandemic, average life expectancy in China went up from 77.3 to 78.2 years. The remarkable results of China's pandemic response fully reflects the CPC's principle of serving the people and governing for the people.
In addition, China, as a responsible major country, has taken the lead in proposing making Chinese vaccines a global public product, and provided more than 2.2 billion doses of vaccines and large amounts of medical supplies to Afghanistan and more than 119 countries and international organizations, effectively boosting the international community to combat the pandemic and making Chinese contributions to the accessibility and affordability of vaccines in developing countries.
During the fight against the pandemic, China has formulated control and prevention policies that serve the interests of the vast majority of the Chinese people based on facts and China’s national realities, and effectively coordinated COVID response with economic and social development. With Omicron much less pathogenic and deadly, as well as China’s treatment, testing and vaccination capacity steadily on the rise, China recently issued steps to treat COVID-19 as a Class-B instead of Class-A infectious disease in light of the evolving situation, shifting the focus of the response from stemming infection to caring for health and preventing severe cases.
China’s COVID situation on the whole remains predictable and under control. As response measures are being refined, relevant Chinese departments have worked actively to beef up medical resources, set up a multi-tiered and category-based diagnosis and treatment mechanism, and increased the production capacity and supply of medicines. China has mobilized as many resources as possible to protect the elderly with underlying health conditions, pregnant and lying-in women, children and other key groups, and made every effort to reduce severe cases and deaths. This shift is science-based, timely and necessary. This is also important from a strategic and long-term perspective for effectively coordinating COVID response with economic and social development, and safeguarding the fundamental interests of the greatest majority of the people.
Countries adjusting the COVID policy would invariably go through a period of adaptation and China is no exception while shifting gear in COVID policy. The difference is that China’s shift took place under better conditions and foundation, after the most severe period of the pandemic. It can be expected that, with the implementation of the refined control and prevention measures, China has the conditions and ability to smoothly pass the current gear shift period, protect people's lives and health to the maximum extent, and promote the speedy recovery of economic and social order.
As the COVID situation in China continues to improve, the effects of policies to stabilise economic growth continue to emerge, and the exchange of Chinese and foreign personnel becomes easier, China’s long-subdued consumer demand will be released, investors’ confidence will be boosted and the economy will rebound strongly. This is good news for not only China but also the entire global economy including Afghanistan.