China's State Council Information Office published a white paper titled "Fighting COVID-19: China in Action" on 7 June.
The white paper of approximately 37,000 Chinese characters (24,000 words in its English version), includes a foreword, a main body and an afterword. It provides important, accurate documentation of China's arduous efforts against COVID-19. The main body consists of four parts, namely "China's Fight against the Epidemic: A Test of Fire", "Well-Coordinated Prevention, Control and Treatment", "Assembling a Powerful Force to Beat the Virus", and "Building a Global Community of Health for All".
"COVID-19 is the most extensive pandemic to afflict humanity in a century." The white paper points out that facing this unknown, unexpected, and devastating disease, China launched a resolute battle to prevent and control its spread. The Communist Party of China and the Chinese government have addressed the epidemic as a top priority and taken swift action. General Secretary Xi Jinping has taken personal command, planned the response, overseen the general situation and acted decisively, pointing the way forward in the fight against the epidemic. This has bolstered the Chinese people's confidence and rallied their strength.
The white paper notes that attaching high importance to COVID-19 prevention and control, General Secretary Xi Jinping strengthened the centralized leadership in the response efforts and stressed the need to put people's lives and health first. Putting forward the general requirement to firm up confidence, strengthen solidarity, adopt a science-based approach and take targeted measures, he called for nationwide efforts to win this people's war against the virus.
In "Well-Coordinated Prevention, Control and Treatment", the white paper highlights the most thorough, rigorous and comprehensive prevention and control measures China has adopted. On scales never seen before, China enforced quarantine and isolation and mobilized medical resources across the country to find every infected person and treat every patient. It has ensured that all those in need have been tested, quarantined, hospitalized or treated.
The white paper emphasizes that facing the sudden onslaught of a previously unknown virus, China has put the people's interests first-nothing is more precious than people's lives. It has rapidly mobilized the manpower and resources of the whole nation and done everything possible to protect the lives and health of its people. The 1.4 billion Chinese people have exhibited enormous tenacity and solidarity in erecting a defensive rampart, which demonstrates the great power of the people.
The white paper says that through painstaking efforts and tremendous sacrifice and having paid a heavy price, China has succeeded in turning the situation around. In little more than a single month, the rising spread of the virus was contained; in around two months, the daily increase in domestic cases had fallen to single digits; and in approximately three months, a decisive victory was secured in the battle to defend Hubei Province and its capital city of Wuhan. Major strategic achievements have been made in the fight against the virus.
The white paper points out that China, committed to building a community with a shared future for mankind and acting as a responsible major country, has fought shoulder to shoulder with the rest of the world to tide over difficulties together. In an open, transparent, and responsible manner and in accordance with law, China gave timely notification to the international community of the onset of COVID-19, and shared without reserve its experience in containing the spread of the virus and treating the infected. China has great empathy with victims all over the world and has done all it can to provide humanitarian aid in support of the international community's endeavors to stem COVID-19.
The white paper underscores solidarity and cooperation as the most powerful weapon available to the international community in the war against COVID-19. In the interest of promoting human progress and welfare of future generations, and guided by the vision of a community with a shared future for mankind, countries need to work hand in hand to defeat COVID-19 and build a global community of health for all.