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Back in the public eye, masked Xi Jinping warns of ‘grim’ fight with coronavirus
- Outbreak exposes shortcomings and strengths of the system, Xi says, paying tribute to medical workers
- Appearance comes amid public anger over the death of eye doctor Li Wenliang
Reading Time:4 minutes
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Chinese President Xi Jinping said on Monday that China’s fight against the coronavirus outbreak, which has exposed the country’s vulnerabilities, remained “grim” but called on officials to have full confidence that they would triumph over the disease.
The coronavirus, which was first reported in the central Chinese city of Wuhan in December and has since spread throughout the world, has so far sickened more than 40,000 with a pneumonia-like illness and killed more than 910 people, the majority of them in China. The World Health Organisation has declared it a global emergency.
China’s state media reported on Monday that Xi visited a district-level disease control office in Beijing.
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“The outbreak of the coronavirus is a major test of the national disease control and prevention centres of all levels in the country,” state television quoted him as saying. “It has shown both the strengths and many shortcomings of the system.”
He praised Communist Party cadres for their bravery on the front line and paid tribute to doctors and nurses who had contracted the illness.
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Xi also expressed confidence about the economy despite the heavy blow from the outbreak.
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