On January 9, 2023, Chargé d'affaires ad interim Wang Xuguang published a signed article entitled Why China is Easing its COVID Control Measures? on the Fiji Sun. The full text of the article is as follows:

Bula vinaka, dear Fijian friends! It gives me great pleasure to share opinions with you through the Fiji Sun. The Fijian people have just had a happy and peaceful Christmas after a successful election, while the Chinese people will celebrate the traditional Spring Festival at the end of this month. Recently, one piece of news has inspired all Chinese people and attracted worldwide attention. That is, China has eased its COVID control measures.

Starting from January 8th, China has managed COVID-19 as Class-B infectious diseases, instead of the more serious Class-A, in accordance with the law and implemented provisional measures on cross-border travel. For visitors to China, no COVID test will be mandatory upon arrival and no centralized quarantine will be required if someone tests positive while in the country. This is a proactive adjustment based on scientific and comprehensive assessment of the epidemic situation. It marks a new stage of China’s COVID control, with the focus shifting from stemming infections to preventing severe cases.

The above-mentioned adjustment has been mostly welcomed by the international community, who believes that China has won decisive victory in battling the pandemic and China’s economic and social development will return to normal in all respects, which is good news for the world. However, there are still some misunderstandings, distortions and even smears. Therefore, it is necessary for me to make the following clear to our Fijian friends.

--First, facts have proven that China’s epidemic control policy in the past three years is very effective. It has not only safeguarded people’s life and health, but also minimized the impact on economic and social development. China still holds the lowest rates of severe cases and mortality globally. Despite the pandemic, average life expectancy in China went up from 77.3 to 78.2 years. China was also the first major economy in the world achieving economic growth after the pandemic broke out and maintained the steady growing momentum. In 2022, China’s GDP is expected to exceed 120 trillion CNY (about 40 trillion FJD), with an increase of more than 5 trillion CNY year-on-year. This is a remarkable achievement. Each country should make its epidemic control policy in line with its own national conditions, constantly adjust according to the development of the situation, and always meet the fundamental interests of the people.

--Second, the recent adjustment of China’s epidemic control policy is scientific, proactive and controllable. It is an optimization based on science. When the virus was wreaking the deadliest havoc, China implemented the strictest control measures and poured all efforts and resources into protecting the life and health of all Chinese people, which enabled the nation to withstand each wave and get through the difficult time. With the constant variation of the virus and drop of its virulence, its threat to human health and life is also reducing. Meanwhile, China has built up a solid immune barrier with over 90 percent of the whole population fully vaccinated. The Chinese people now care more about their daily life, work, study and livelihood. Therefore, it is necessary to optimize the control measures, shifting the focus from stemming infections to preventing severe cases and promoting a faster return to normal of the economic and social development.

--Last, all countries in the world will experience an adaptation period when adjusting epidemic control measures, and China is no exception. Actually, China has never really experienced wide community transmission until the recent adjustment. Therefore, it is normal for the confirmed cases to increase rapidly after the adjustment. The epidemic situation in China is totally under anticipation and control, and will pose no threat to other countries. As of now, Beijing and other major cities have passed the epidemic peak smoothly, and people are starting to prepare for the upcoming Spring Festival. Medical experts from Australia and New Zealand have said recently that travelers from China will not lead to a significant increase in local cases, so that there is no need for unreasonable restrictions.

Over the past three years, China and Fiji have actively coped with the pandemic in line with respective national conditions, cooperating in solidarity and supporting each other, so that our friendship has been cemented. China has also taken an active part in international cooperation against COVID-19 and made important contributions to strengthening global defenses especially helping the developing countries. It has provided large number of medical supplies to 153 countries and 15 international organizations, including Fiji and other Pacific Island Countries, sent medical expert groups to 34 countries, and provided over 2.2 billion doses of COVID-19 vaccine to more than 120 countries and international organizations.

Today, we are very happy to see that since Fiji reopened its border, the economy has recovered, the society has come back to normal and the people have walked out of the impact of the pandemic. We also firmly believe that, with the joint efforts of the Chinese Government and people, China is bound to succeed in the fight against COVID-19. In the future, we are expecting closer people-to-people exchanges, more fruitful cooperation in various fields, and a higher level of bilateral relations between China and Fiji.

Wish all of our sisters and brothers in Fiji a happy, healthy and prosperous new year.

Vinaka vakalevu!