Remarks of the Spokesperson of the Chinese Embassy on Some Canadian Media’s Distortion of China's COVID-19 Response Policies

2023-01-17 15:32

Recently, some Canadian media have, in total disregard of facts, made denigrating remarks that China's COVID information and data failed to give an accurate picture of the situation. The unwarranted remarks reflect its deep-seated prejudices. We deplore and are firmly against this. Let me make clear of China's solemn positions.

First, China has shared information about the epidemic with the international community in an open and transparent manner. Since COVID began, China has shared relevant information and data with the international community in an open, transparent and responsible manner. According to incomplete statistics, over the past three years, China has carried out over 60 technical exchanges with the WHO and its related office. After refining its COVID response measures, China has held several technical meetings with the WHO. China continues to share the genome data of the virus via the Global Initiative on Sharing Avian Influenza Data (GISAID). The WHO has noted on many occasions that the information and data that China shared helped scientists from all countries to learn about the evolution of the virus and strengthened the global science community’s confidence in China’s COVID response. China will continue to closely monitor possible mutations of the virus, release relevant information in a timely manner, and work with the international community to tackle the COVID challenge.

Second, China's epidemic prevention and control policy is science-based. Since COVID began, China has always put the people and their lives above all else. We have made the best effort to protect people’s life and health and effectively coordinated COVID response with economic and social development. Omicron has become much less pathogenic and deadly while China’s treatment, antigen testing and vaccination capacity is steadily on the rise. China shifted its COVID response policies on the basis of a better understanding of the pathogen and the disease, the immune level of the general public and the capacity of the health care system, as well as the public health intervention measures. This shift is science-based, timely and necessary. This is also important from a strategic and long-term perspective for safeguarding the fundamental interests of the greatest majority of the people, and conforms to China's situation.

Third, China’s COVID situation is under control. Some Chinese cities such as Beijing have gone through the infection peak, bringing life and work back to normal. Regarding potential peaks in other provinces and cities, China is fully confident that this process of policy adjustment and shifting of focus will go ahead in a steady and orderly way. After China adjusted its COVID response measures, China's economy will witness a robust recovery, and will significantly stabilize and shore up the world economic growth.

We urge relevant Canadian media to abandon ideological prejudice and stop the smear of China's COVID situation and China's COVID response policies at once, acknowledge China's achievements in epidemic prevention and control, and cultivate a favorable environment of public opinion for international community to jointly combat the COVID.