After the most violent protests in decades, Vice Prime Minister Sun Chunlan spoke yesterday of a “new stage of the pandemic”, sparking speculation about easing. “As the omicron variant has become less pathogenic, more people are being vaccinated and we have gained more experience in Covid prevention, our fight against the pandemic is at a new stage and brings with it new tasks.” As a first easing, certain people who have tested positive for the coronavirus should be allowed to quarantine at home, two people familiar with the matter said yesterday. The closure of several residential areas, including in the capital Beijing, was lifted yesterday.
Xi Jinping received Charles Michel
Xi, meanwhile, received EU Council President Charles Michel in Beijing. The meeting discussed the tense geopolitical situation, the Russian war of aggression in Ukraine and the future relationship between the European Union and China. Xi warned Europeans against “all forms of a new Cold War”. Such mindsets and ideological confrontations must be overcome. China supports the EU to step up its mediation and lead the creation of a balanced security architecture in Europe. According to EU information, Xi and Michel reiterated in the conversation that “nuclear threats are irresponsible and highly dangerous”. The President-in-Office said the Union is counting on China as a permanent member of the UN Security Council to lobby Russia to respect the UN Charter and help “end Russia’s brutal destruction and occupation”.
Source: Nachrichten
