Chinese President Xi Jinping | Photo credit: AP
Beijing: The president of China, who has faced persistent criticism from various world leaders over the COVID-19 outbreak, said Tuesday that his country had acted openly and transparently when it came to the coronavirus pandemic.
President Xi Jinping said China had taken concrete steps to help save tens of millions of lives around the world following the outbreak of the novel coronavirus disease.
Xi made the remarks while addressing a ceremony to honor those who had emerged as role models during China’s fight against COVID-19.
Xi noted that China is the first major economy to register growth during the coronavirus pandemic. This, he said, is a demonstration of China’s strong skills and vitality.
Xi told the meeting that what China had done after the outbreak of the novel coronavirus disease was tantamount to passing “an extraordinary historical test.”
“We have passed an extraordinary and historic test,” Xi said, praising the country for a “heroic fight” against COVID-19.
“We quickly achieved initial success in the people’s war against coronavirus. We are leading the world in economic recovery and in the fight against Covid-19,” he added.
China has been under intense global scrutiny over the coronavirus, and the United States and Australia pressured Beijing to learn why it covered up the origins and severity of the disease.
The Chinese government continues to emphasize that the source of the virus, which was first detected in the city of Wuhan in Hubei province late last year, remains unknown.
China’s official statistics show that a total of 4,634 people have died from COVID-19 in the country.
