Passers-by watch an outdoor screen showing the live speech of Chinese President Xi Jinping during the opening session of the 20th Chinese Communist Party Congress in Hangzhou, in China's eastern Zhejiang province on Oct 16, 2022. - Photo: AFP
BEIJING: China is unlikely to open up in the near future, with President Xi Jinping hinting that the controversial zero-Covid policy will stay on.
Speaking at the opening of the Communist Party of China’s 20th national congress here, Xi emphasised that the party insisted on putting human lives above all else.
“We have protected the people’s health and safety to the greatest extent possible and made tremendously encouraging achievements in both epidemic response and economic and social development,” he added.
Before this, a list of spokesmen from various agencies as well as commentary reports published in China's mouthpiece had confirmed the country’s commitment to the zero-Covid policy.
Although it did save lives, the strategy has brought about negative impacts to the people while damaging its economy.
Frustrations over the endless lockdowns, travel restrictions and PCR tests are growing among the people, who are struggling to make ends meet amidst the pandemic.
In many places including Beijing, residents are required to undergo the PCR tests every three days.
Failing which, they could not take any public transport, go to work as well as entering public places such as the malls, restaurants or even their own housing estates.
The congress, held every five years, will see nearly 3,000 delegates gathering to elect a new leadership for the next term, while setting a roadmap for both the party and the country.
Xi is expected to stay in power and get an unprecedented third term as the party leader.
At the event, Xi also emphasised on the party’s zero tolerance for corruption.
“We will continue to take coordinated and comprehensive steps to ensure that officials do not have the audacity, opportunity or desire to become corrupt,” he added.
Xi also revealed that the country is prepared to invest more resources in global development cooperation.
