The Straits Times:

Given that it has been nearly three years since the pandemic started, is the country's current dynamic zero-COVID policy at odds with economic growth? How long more can we expect zero dynamic to continue? And furthermore, since over 90% of the Chinese population is now vaccinated, can we expect a timeline for the country to move towards living with the virus we've been going through? Thank you.

Chang Jile:

Thank you very much for your questions. The dynamic zero-COVID policy involves focusing on identifying problems early and correcting them while they are nascent. We need to improve abilities in COVID-19 prevention, control and early detection to promptly handle any infections, so that any cases can be found and addressed immediately, with the lowest social cost to bring the disease under control in the shortest possible time.

General Secretary Xi Jinping has emphasized targeted control, striving to achieve the greatest prevention and control effect for the lowest cost, and minimize the impact of the epidemic on economic and social development. This is also a consistent requirement of the central government. When evaluating the cost of policies and measures in fighting COVID-19, we should calculate it in big-picture terms. The country as a whole should be considered as a large economic account, a large social account, a large people's livelihood account, and a large health account. China's philosophy toward the COVID-19 pandemic control has always been putting the people and their lives first. The purpose of the prevention and control measures is to minimize the pandemic's impact on the economy and society. Of course, these measures will inevitably cause some inconvenience to people's daily life and work. However, the coordinated nationwide adoption of localized, strict prevention and control measures in areas where the epidemic occurs has ensured the normal life and work of most areas and people in China, and the stability of the supply chains. If we look at it in big-picture terms, our prevention and control measures are most economical and effective.

We are faced with a pandemic unseen in a century, with the current global COVID-19 situation still at a high level and a virus that is constantly mutating. Our understanding of the virus and the disease is still deepening, and there are still many uncertainties. The risks and threats posed by the pandemic still exist. Therefore, we must deal with the short-term and long-term, local and overall relationships, with unswerving strategic focus and continuously optimize prevention and control policies and measures as circumstances and conditions change, so as to take well-coordinated steps to respond to COVID-19 and pursue economic and social development in a more efficient way. These are the basic requirements of the scientific spirit and a science-based approach and also the realistic choices to follow the laws of science. Thank you.

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