Expert says China pursues delicate balance between economic activities, public health

Chinese passengers arrive at the Suvarnabhumi Airport in Samut Prakan, Thailand, Jan. 9, 2023.(Xinhua/Rachen Sageamsak)

"There is a very delicate balance between economic activities and people's lives. In that regard, China considered it the time to open the economy and normalize life," said a prominent Turkish expert.

ISTANBUL, Jan. 12 (Xinhua) -- China has been pursuing a policy of delicate balance fostering economic activity and maintaining public health, said a prominent Turkish expert, hailing China's optimization of COVID-19 response.

China has recently refined its COVID-19 policies and facilitated cross-border travel of Chinese and foreign nationals and international exchange and cooperation.

Selcuk Colakoglu, director of the Ankara-based Turkish Center for Asia-Pacific Studies, told Xinhua that this optimization of COVID-19 measures was appropriate as the disease's threat to public health has widely reduced.

Colakoglu believes this decision came with perfect timing as China is the second-largest economy and the global economy's primary driver and manufacturing hub.

Vehicles run on Jianguo Road during morning peak hours in Chaoyang District of Beijing, capital of China, Jan. 3, 2023. (Xinhua/Ju Huanzong)

"There is a very delicate balance between economic activities and people's lives. In that regard, China considered it the time to open the economy and normalize life," Colakoglu said.

"The Chinese government has initiated a prudent policy for that. Preventing any interruption to the global supply chain is a major point for the Chinese government," said the expert. "Because China is the main provider of many assets. Chinese companies provide produced or semi-produced, finished or semi-finished products to the international markets."

He said China has been very cooperative from the very beginning of the pandemic by providing over 2.2 billion vaccine doses to more than 120 countries and international organizations, adding that in the initial period of the pandemic in 2020, China sent its health personnel, protective equipment, and other medical supplies and drugs to other countries.

"Also, during the meetings with the World Health Organization and other international gatherings, China has underlined that vaccines are a global public good, not only for paid customers," Colakoglu said, adding that all countries and individuals "should have the right to reach these vaccines for free or at a reasonable price" and "China has played a role model in this regard."

In the meantime, Colakoglu criticized some countries, including the United States, which have decided to impose restrictions on Chinese tourists.