Ease China’s Covid controls to revive economy, cope with US pressure: economists
- Six leading figures call for end to excessive travel curbs and opening of commercial areas
- Development is the key to countering pressure from the United States, they say
In an open letter posted online on Saturday, the six economists said priority should be given to lifting restrictions on commercial areas such as transport, office buildings, restaurants, hotels and shopping malls.
“Development is the root of solving all problems, and it is the root of coping with US strategic containment … and resolving various risks,” the academics said.
03:44
Beijing closes some Covid testing booths as China enters new phase of pandemic controls
China has stuck to a zero-Covid policy since the pandemic erupted three years ago, using mass testing, lockdowns and closures of public places to contain the virus – to much public frustration and anger.
But since protests against the controls broke out last weekend, several cities – including Beijing and Guangzhou – have relaxed some measures.
In the open letter, the authors said smaller businesses and the public had been hit particularly hard by the economic fallout from the pandemic.
They said excessive travel restrictions should be eliminated and researchers should look at the feasibility of limiting the scope of lockdowns, phasing out region and citywide testing, ramping up vaccination for the elderly, and raising awareness of the Omicron variant’s reduced severity.