Hard lessons learned in China practical legacy for the world: China Daily editorial

The meeting held in Beijing on Tuesday to commend four role models in the country's fight against the novel coronavirus provided the nation with an opportunity to reflect on the "people's war" against the virus — not only the sacrifices and hardships that entailed, but also the Chinese spirit and the Chinese people's indomitable will.

It was the overall planning and resolute decision-making of the top leadership that enabled the country to swiftly mobilize and concentrate national resources to effectively contain the virus, demonstrating the advantages of the Chinese system, which is the fundamental guarantee for resisting risks and challenges and safeguarding people's well-being.

As President Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, highlighted in the meeting, the priority was and remains saving lives.

Although some of the lessons the country has learned in the fight against the virus have been painful as the "extraordinary circumstances" called for "extraordinary measures" that demanded stoicism in the face of difficulties and hardships, they have evolved into an invaluable heritage bequeathed by the Chinese people to future generations not only in China, but around the world.

Holding such a meeting has helped crystallize the country's experience, which should enhance the confidence of other countries that they can do same.

Such a confidence booster is necessary, as many countries are still struggling to gain an upper hand over the virus, and even those that have passed the most difficult part of the fight like China still face risks that the virus can flare up again.

The Chinese mainland has not seen any local infections for more than 20 days, and all new cases, counted in dozens each day, have been imported from abroad, with those infected quarantined on detection. Notably, the test, trace, quarantine or treat regime that has been developed has successfully thwarted a resurgence of the virus in a number of areas over the past three months after clusters of infections appeared, nipping any large-scale outbreak of the virus in the bud.

It is a success that is attributable to the "huge partnership between communities, scientific institutions, public health institutions in the government", and "a lot of cooperation, very sustained commitment to getting the job done", as Michael Ryan, executive director of the World Health Organization's Health Emergencies Program, told the media on Monday. The State's huge inputs, in the forms of funds, manpower and resources, helped bestow the partnership, cooperation and commitment with practical effects.

And with the virus having been generally controlled, China has been able to ramp up the production of essential medical goods to support pandemic control efforts both at home and abroad.

Despite the stigmatism and smears directed at the country by the US administration and others that hold prejudice toward China, it has never wavered in providing all it can to help other countries, including the US, in their struggles with the virus and to cushion the pandemic's economic repercussions, so as to help the world weather the storm.