Lockdowns and strict quarantine rules are affecting China's economy. The government says you have to "coordinate yourself" in the fight against the virus, but there are no plans to relax it. As popular dissatisfaction mounts, President Xi Jinping has an important week ahead.
China wants to maintain its strict zero-Covid strategy. Ahead of the Communist Party Congress, which takes place only every five years and begins in Beijing on Sunday, the powerful Central Committee called for "not to relax" prevention and control, according to a communiqué at the end of a four-day plenary session.
At the same time, the fight against the virus must be "coordinated" with social and economic development, it said, apparently with a view to the economic problems caused by constant lockdowns, mass tests, quarantines and other restrictions. The final document called for the pandemic to be prevented, the economy to be stabilized and development to be secured.
As the rest of the world tries to live with the virus, the world's most populous country continues to pursue a zero-tolerance goal. Although only a few hundred new infections are detected per day in China, tens of millions of people are partially or fully affected by lockdowns. On the one hand, there is dissatisfaction among the people, on the other hand, the development of the second largest economy is suffering.
The fight against Covid-19 and the bad economic situation determine the discussions, at least behind the scenes, when the almost 2,300 delegates meet in the Great Hall of the People for their week-long meeting on Sunday. The focus is on changes to the party constitution to anchor the ideology of state and party leader Xi Jinping more firmly. The Central Committee, which has 370 members and candidates, will also be partially reshuffled. Immediately after the conclusion of the party congress, the Central Committee is to fill the 25-strong Politburo and confirm Xi Jinping for a historic third term as Secretary General.
With the prospect of a lifelong leadership role, the 69-year-old is disregarding previously respected age limits and term limits - as the first party leader since the founder of the state, Mao Tsetung. The Central Committee called for people to unite behind Xi Jinping and comprehensively implement his "Ideas for Socialism with Chinese Characteristics in a New Era". The power body spoke of a year with a "complex and challenging international environment" and the difficult and arduous task of pursuing reform, development and stability in the country.
