Shou Xiaoli:

Next, we will give the floor to Mr. Luo.

Luo Zhaohui:

Thank you, Ms. Shou. Friends from the media, good afternoon. I'm very pleased to be taking part in this press conference and talking about related issues with you. Currently, in terms of the global situation, uncertainty is rising and disorder is increasing. We are facing great changes unseen in a century, a once-in-a-century pandemic, and China-U.S. competition, all at the same time. In this context, under the leadership of President Xi Jinping and with concerted efforts of the whole nation. China has taken the lead not only in preventing and fighting COVID-19, but also in restoring economic growth. This is a remarkable achievement. 

We have become the first major economy to resume positive economic growth. You might have seen from news reports that the 3rd CIIE concluded yesterday to great success. These demonstrate China's achievements in preventing and fighting COVID-19. We often say that global issues, unconventional security issues and cross-border issues all require international cooperation. All parties and all countries need to join hands in solidarity to achieve the ultimate victory of defeating this once-in-a-century pandemic that we are currently facing. Following the strategic plans formulated by President Xi Jinping and the CPC Central Committee, under the direct instructions of State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi, we have been overcoming difficulties facing China's diplomacy and marching forward bravely.

This year, President Xi Jinping has frequently conducted "cloud diplomacy" via video and telephone links. In more than 90 important bilateral and multilateral diplomatic events, he has sent out a sincere message that China will work closely with the international community, pointed the way forward in joint response to the pandemic, and taken the lead in promoting global cooperation against the pandemic. Premier Li Keqiang has conducted more than 30 diplomatic activities online and offline. Just now, he was taking part in the 23rd China-ASEAN leaders' meeting via video link at the Great Hall of the People, which achieved great success and produced many important consensuses. State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi has also participated in more than 170 events relating to foreign affairs via letters, telephone calls and video links. These activities send out a strong message that China is putting the people's interests first and that nothing is more precious than people's lives, contributing ingenuity and strength to the global fight against the coronavirus.

We have called for joint efforts by all countries to build a global community of health for all, and proposed a series of propositions on international aid and the usage of vaccines. These have been well received and supported by various parties. The latest statistics show that we have offered assistance and support to 150 countries and seven international organizations. We have also provided other nations with a large amount of pandemic prevention goods. All parties at the China-ASEAN leaders' meeting spoke highly of China's role in the global fight against the coronavirus, and eagerly proposed continuing to join hands with China in developing and utilizing COVID-19 vaccines. Premier Li Keqiang also thanked ASEAN for its ample assistance and support during the joint fight against the pandemic.

In addition, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China has consistently coordinated, promoted, adjusted and improved pre-departure prevention and control measures, and coordinated epidemic controls with socioeconomic development. It has also adopted a creative approach by building "fast tracks" and "green lanes" for personnel and goods exchanges, as well as "lifelines" for food transportation, to help stabilize industrial and supply chains at home and abroad, as well as support economic recovery and international people-to-people exchanges. We have also instructed Chinese embassies and consulates overseas and related provinces to strengthen control measures in border areas, and promoted the establishment of an inter-agency task force at all levels with our land neighbors.

Since the coronavirus outbreak, the CPC Central Committee and the State Council have attached great importance to and compassion for Chinese citizens overseas. We take the health and safety of our citizens abroad very seriously, and hold the interests and concerns of overseas Chinese in our hearts. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and over 200 Chinese diplomatic missions overseas have followed the international pandemic situation closely, kept a strong focus on local Chinese citizens and provided them with comprehensive consular protection and services. The long duration, wide range and high intensity of our response is of a kind rarely witnessed in the history of the People's Republic of China. 

We have actively helped and supported overseas Chinese and Chinese students impacted by the pandemic. To date, 157 Chinese embassies and consulates in 92 countries have distributed more than 1.2 million "health kits." We have also provided various pandemic prevention items to more than 5 million overseas Chinese in over 100 foreign countries. We have actively entered into dialogues and consultations with governments of other countries, urging them to pay great attention to addressing the health and safety of local Chinese citizens, as well as ensuring timely treatment for local Chinese citizens diagnosed with the coronavirus. We have also invited ambassadors and consul-generals of China to talk online with overseas Chinese nationals, mobilized the local Chinese community to establish pairing assistance systems with overseas students, and provided telemedicine services and guidance by well-known domestic medical experts. We have taken actions to help overseas nationals facing difficulties return to China. By Nov. 10, China had brought back more than 70,000 Chinese nationals from 92 countries via extra section flights and other means. We have made all-out efforts to ensure that the consular hotline (12308) is available 24 hours a day to provide consular protection and assistance to Chinese citizens overseas who are in need or facing an emergency. During the first 10 months of this year, calls received by the hotline tripled compared with the same period last year. In April alone, the hotline received an average of over 4,600 calls per day, or about three calls per minute. Therefore, China is providing strong backing for overseas Chinese and students overseas, and takes their safety and well-being very seriously.

At present, the world is witnessing a second wave of the devastating pandemic. To date, global cases of COVID-19 have surpassed 52 million, with the number of confirmed cases in North America, Latin America, Europe and Asia each surpassing 10 million. Recently, the world has seen a daily rise of over 600,000 cases, which is six times that of the first wave during peak levels in spring. The number of daily cases in the U.S. crossed the threshold of 100,000 per day for the seventh consecutive day. Europe is at the epicenter of the pandemic once again, where confirmed cases in the past week accounted for half of the weekly global increase. Neighboring countries are also facing a serious situation, with India surpassing 8 million cases, Russia surpassing 1.8 million cases, and Indonesia, the Philippines, and Bangladesh all surpassing 400,000 cases. We should also not be overly optimistic about the situations in Pakistan, Nepal and Myanmar. We are now facing serious threats imposed by the second wave of the pandemic. To date, a total of over 3,600 imported cases have been reported on the Chinese mainland. This number has increased rapidly since October, with an average of 16.6 imported cases per day, marking a rise of 45% compared with September. In the first 10 days of November, we have had 260 imported cases. China continues to find itself under constant pressure from both imported and locally transmitted COVID-19 cases. The Chinese government has made guarding against imported cases and a rebound in locally transmitted cases the top priority in its epidemic control efforts. We must remain vigilant and not drop our guard, continue to fully exploit our institutional advantages and experience fighting the virus, and mobilize the whole country to win the battle against COVID-19. Maintaining the health and safety of every citizen has always been the focus of the Chinese government's pandemic prevention and controls, whether they are domestic citizens, overseas citizens, overseas Chinese or Chinese students abroad. The global pandemic has led to the loss of 1.29 million lives. When the outbreak first began, China decisively locked down its cities and insisted on putting people and their lives first. Now, let us remember that if we did not do this, the consequences would have been disastrous. Every time and every place there is a cluster of infections, we adopt the policy of testing the whole city when one person is infected with help from the whole country. When the global pandemic is at its peak, that is the time when governments of all countries generally step up prevention and control efforts. At this time, some foreigners and overseas compatriots need to travel to China for various reasons, which is understandable and should be welcomed. But when the pandemic is raging, cross-border travel will also be affected by the pandemic control measures. This is not only about coming to China, but also when Chinese citizens go abroad, as well as the coming and going of citizens in other countries — there are no exceptions. The situations are almost the same. Therefore, the World Health Organization (WHO) has been encouraging people from the very beginning, and the Chinese government has also followed the WHO's expert advice of encouraging people to reduce unnecessary travel, especially across borders, in order to reduce the risk of infection during travel. Testing can help passengers timely and accurately determine whether they are infected when they must travel, and enable early detection and treatment. This is a good thing for the passengers themselves, and also for China and the rest of the world. In short, our purpose is to maintain everyone's health and safety, and to consolidate the hard-won achievements in the fight against the pandemic.

The Chinese government recently introduced some new measures to cope with the epidemic. As I said, many countries reopened before the epidemic was under control and have recently re-imposed citywide or nationwide lockdowns. Facing the new epidemic situations, we have taken measures following the actual conditions and regarding the practices of other countries. First, the need for a serum antibody test has been added. Second, passengers are required to take a nucleic acid test 48 hours before boarding rather than the previous 72 hours. Third, a nucleic acid test and serum antibody test are now needed at transit points. Fourth, tightening visa restrictions have been adopted for those countries with high rates of infection. Meanwhile, the circuit breaker mechanism for flights will continue to be strictly enforced.

With the changing situation, the relevant prevention and control measures will be adjusted dynamically rather than being rigid. You may have noticed that at the end of March, when the first wave of the overseas COVID-19 epidemic became serious, we issued a notice to reduce flights and tighten visa requirements. Half a year later, in mid-to-late September, when the epidemic situation in Asia and Europe had eased remarkably, we issued a notice to ease visa requirements and flight restrictions. Recently, the second wave of the epidemic has hit other countries, and we have had to tighten our measures once again. These measures for preventing inbound cases will be subject to dynamic adjustment based on the changing situation. Both loosening and tightening restrictions are aimed at safeguarding people's lives, health, and security, as well as consolidating hard-won achievements in fighting COVID-19 at home and maintain a sound momentum in economic stability.

The Chinese government is confident that we would win the battle against inbound cases in winter. The epidemic is a challenge for all mankind and no country is immune to it. We will uphold a vision of building a community with a shared future for mankind, stick to multilateral cooperation as well as scientific spirit and attitude. Why do I say scientific spirit and attitude? Well, all of the anti-epidemic measures we have taken are the result of multiple studies and prudent discussions among various Chinese government departments, such as the National Health Commission and their experts. We will continue to cooperate with the international communities to achieve a final victory in the fight against the COVID-19 epidemic. Thank you.