BeijingChinese President Xi Jinping on Saturday acknowledged that the current wave of COVID-19 sweeping the country has “entered a new phase” and that “tough challenges remain”. In fact, the World Health Organization (WHO) has asked Beijing to provide more data on the strains of the coronavirus, amid steps by India and other countries to test passengers coming from the communist country for Covid.

“We have now entered a new phase of fighting COVID-19, where tough challenges remain,” Xi said in his New Year address to the nation. He said that “it has not been an easy journey” as the country is facing unprecedented difficulties and challenges. Xi said on national television that China’s extraordinary efforts have helped it overcome unprecedented difficulties.

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“With extraordinary efforts, we have overcome unprecedented difficulties and challenges and it has not been an easy journey for anyone,” he said. He said this without providing information about the serious situation of the Covid pandemic prevailing in the country. During his address, Xi said that China adopted the COVID-19 response in light of the emerging situation. He said, “The ray of hope is in front of us. We have to go the extra mile because unity means victory.”

This is the second time in the last few days that Xi has spoken on the current Covid situation in the country, after the ‘zero-covid’ policy was relaxed overnight earlier this month following public protests. Meanwhile, after repeated appeals by the WHO, China on Friday allowed its officials to speak to experts from the global health body. (agency)