Coronavirus: China’s ‘sober-minded’ officials urged to focus on domestic recovery, not international disputes
- Outspoken former Chongqing mayor Huang Qifan says China should ‘find new opportunities from the crisis’ to aid its domestic recovery
- Issues over the origin of the virus, compensation claims by the United States and decoupling worries have all appeared in the wake of the outbreak
China’s officials must stay “sober-minded” to handle the variety of coronavirus-related challenges that lie ahead, as mistakes could undermine relations with major developed nations and harm the country’s economic outlook, according to outspoken former Chongqing mayor Huang Qifan.
China should “find new opportunities from the crisis” to proceed with structural adjustments, develop emerging industries and city clusters, as well as improve weak links in the economy, added Huang, who retired from a senior position with the National People’s Congress Standing Committee two years ago.
Huang conceded that some challenges from Western countries stemming from the coronavirus need special attention, and even retaliatory measures, although some deserve nothing but ridicule.
Compensation demands by the United States were only to grab eyeballs and cheer itself up. We don’t have to respond tit-for-tat