China always adheres to people-centered governance philosophy, builds synergy with world to contain Covid-19
By
Zhong Sheng
As
China has achieved a major strategic success in its nationwide Covid-19 control
efforts, secured economic and social development, and organized an orderly
return to normal work and daily life, the world is casting its eyes to the
east, searching for the reasons for the progress made by the country and the
Communist Party of China (CPC).
A
recent white paper titled “Fighting Covid-19: China in Action” released
by the country’s State Council Information Office revealed the source of power
and the “mighty weapon” of China in its epidemic response: observing the
people-centered governance philosophy of the CPC; China’s ability to mobilize
resources to accomplish major initiatives; its composite national strength
built up during more than four decades of reform and opening up, particularly
since the 18th CPC National Congress held in November 2012; remarkable
achievements in modernizing governance; two defining values of Chinese culture
– solidarity and mutual assistance; and the profound love of the Chinese people
for their family and their country.
Lives
are precious. That’s a principle that China has always adhered to no matter
what difficulties lie ahead, and that’s why China’s practices have deeply
touched the world.
The
white paper unveiled a series of astonishing figures. Since the virus struck,
hospitals in Wuhan designated for treating severe cases have treated more than
9,600 such cases. The recovery rate has risen from 14 percent to 89 percent,
higher than the average rate for normal viral pneumonia. To date, more than
3,000 patients over the age of 80, including 7 centenarians, have been cured,
with many of them brought back to life from the verge of death. The
average cost for treating Covid-19 patients in severe condition surpassed
RMB150, 000, and in some critical cases the individual cost exceeded RMB1
million, all covered by the state.
China
made its resolute choice to place people’s lives above economic growth,
embraced a philosophy that puts life above everything else, saved lives at all
costs, and showed care and compassion for Chinese citizens overseas. Facts
proved undeniably that the CPC and the Chinese government have always acted
with a keen sense of responsibility to humanity and the people.
The
sense of responsibility at the critical moment demonstrated that the country
respects and holds in awe the dignity and lives of people as individuals, and
signified the solidarity and strength of 1.4 billion Chinese.
Waging
an all-out people’s war on the virus, China mobilized the people, enhanced
R&D, procured supplies, and brought them to those in need rapidly. It made
a miracle in mankind’s anti-epidemic history. The 1.4 billion Chinese people shouldered
their responsibilities, united as one, and stayed resilient, representing a
formidable force.
The
Lancet issued statement to support the Chinese scientific, public health and
medical workers; Time magazine hailed the remarkable sense of responsibility of
Chinese couriers; Forbes also commended the volition of the Chinese people,
many of whom had stayed home for over a month.
Alan
Macfarlane, a historian and professor emeritus of King’s College, University of
Cambridge, believes that China’s success in epidemic response came from
solidarity, mutual sympathy, rational planning and responsible practices.
A
major crisis is a litmus test of the ruling Party’s governance philosophy and
effectiveness. The strong leadership of the CPC has been fundamental to China’s
rapid containment of the virus. The CPC has a strong leadership core, a
people-oriented governance philosophy, and well-established organization and
operation mechanisms. It quickly made the right decisions in response to the
crisis. The CPC has more than 4.6 million primary-level organizations, which
have served as strongholds against the epidemic, rallying and serving the
general public. From January 24, Chinese New Year’s Eve, to March 8, China
rallied 346 national medical teams, consisting of 42,600 medical workers and
more than 900 public health professionals to the immediate aid of Hubei and the
city of Wuhan. Some 4 million community workers are working in around 650,000
urban and rural communities, and 8.81 million registered volunteers across the
country had participated in volunteer projects. Besides, more than 39 million
CPC members fought the virus at the front line.
Under
the CPC leadership, efficient and powerful response measures were implemented.
Within a short time, across-the-board crisis-response mechanisms were
established down to the community level, motivating all those involved across
the country to follow instructions and act as one. To address the shortfall in
medical resources while patient numbers surged, China exploited the full
strength of its comprehensive and resilient manufacturing sector and its
complete industrial chain. The country has striven to minimize their impact on
social and economic development, adopted timely policies to ensure the basic
livelihood of people in difficulties caused by Covid-19, and rolled out a host
of policies to reduce the burdens of businesses, particularly small and medium
enterprises and self-employed people.
After
weathering the epidemic, the Chinese people have keenly realized that the CPC
leadership is the most reliable shelter against storms. The world sees that the
CPC is responsible for not only the Chinese people, but also the globe.
“I
have never seen in my life this kind of mobilization,” said WHO
Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, adding that the high speed and massive scale of China’s
pandemic response were rarely seen in the world.
The
only way to deal with the Covid-19 pandemic is to defeat it. It’s universally
recognized that China’s success lighted the hope that the world will emerge
from this dark moment in human history into a brighter future, and boosted
confidence for the world to join hands to contain the spread of the virus.
(Zhong
Sheng is a pen name often used by People’s Daily to express its views on
foreign policy.)
China always adheres to people-centered governance philosophy, builds synergy with world to contain Covid-19
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