Coronavirus: Xi Jinping calls for overhaul of China’s health crisis response system
- President underlines need for biosecurity law in national security interest
- Tougher lockdown measures to combat coronavirus epidemic extended to more cities in Hubei province
Stressing the need to strengthen legislation on public health, Xi also called for a review of laws on infectious disease prevention and treatment, as well as wildlife protection, highlighting the need to speed up legislation on biosecurity.
In a meeting with top leadership in Beijing, Xi, who has taken a higher profile in directing the fight against the virus in recent days, called the outbreak a “major test for the national governance system and governance capacity” and said the system was falling short.
“There is not enough preparation for a catastrophe – the risk assessments, research and in-depth management for emergencies are not in place,” he said. “There is inadequate monitoring and early warning systems, and the foundations of emergency management need to be strengthened.”
Speaking in Beijing at a leadership forum on deepening reform, Xi said that despite the urgency of the outbreak, cadres should not lose sight of the long-term reform battle.
“[We must] win this battle against the contagion by relying on science and taking decisive action. But we should also take a long-term view, summarise the experience and learn our lessons ... so we can strengthen our areas of weakness and close the loopholes exposed by the epidemic,” state news agency Xinhua quoted Xi as saying.