China’s Politburo ‘insists’ on zero-Covid, omits mention of GDP growth target
- China’s 25-member Politburo has reiterated it is trying to strike a balance between coronavirus containment and economic growth
- Analysts say it is clear Beijing’s top priority is Covid control and there will not be huge stimulus to meet the ‘around 5.5 per cent’ growth target
China’s top leadership defended its zero-Covid policy in a tone-setting economic conference on Thursday, making it a political priority while calling for a long-term perspective on pandemic control and economic growth ahead of the 20th party congress later this year.
However, the 25-member Politburo, which is headed by President Xi Jinping, softened its language on achieving the full-year growth target of “around 5.5 per cent”, which is looking increasingly distant due to periodic coronavirus outbreaks, global recession risks and trade tensions.
In its quarterly assessment of the economy, the Politburo made it clear that it wanted to strike a balance between Covid control, economic growth and development – a message unchanged from its April meeting, despite underwhelming growth in the second quarter.
“We must review the relationship between pandemic control and economic development comprehensively, systematically and with a long-term perspective,” the official Xinhua News Agency reported on Thursday, citing the Politburo statement.
Dynamic zero-Covid must be insisted on
“Particularly, it must be reviewed from a political point of view and with political calculations.