Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remarks on January 27 in an instruction to Party organizations, members and officials. 

Since the novel coronavirus pneumonia (COVID-19) broke out, President Xi has chaired multiple meetings, heard numbers of reports, made many important instructions and conducted work inspections to prevent and control the epidemic. 

His key message is clear: People always come first. 

People

President Xi has emphasized on many occasions that people's safety and health is the top priority, and thus the prevention and control of the outbreak is the country's most important work for now. 

On January 25, the first day of the Lunar New Year, Xi chaired a meeting of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee. He called for more resolute efforts to prevent the further spread of the epidemic and demanded all-out efforts to treat infected patients. 

On January 27, Xi stressed in an instruction that people's interests are the highest priority in the current arduous battle against the COVID-19 and called on Party officials to stay on the job and shoulder their responsibilities. 

On February 7, in a phone call with U.S. President Donald Trump, Xi pointed out that China is dedicated to safeguarding the lives and health of not only its own people but also people all over the world. 

Response

Since the epidemic broke out, China, under the guidance of President Xi, has gone all out to fight it, with the speed, intensity and coverage unprecedented in the world. 

Read more: China's governance model in response to the coronavirus outbreak

China pooled national medical personnel and supplies to the epicenter Hubei Province and built new hospitals, such as Huoshenshan Hospital, which was constructed in 10 days, making "mission impossible" possible. 

China extended the Chinese Lunar New Year holiday, delayed the starting of schools and businesses, locked down hard-hit cities in Hubei, and applied stringent quarantine measures across the country.

Confidence 

"Confidence" is another key word Xi stressed for many times in his instructions. He believes that China can certainly obtain a full victory in the fight against the novel coronavirus. 

On February 10, Xi went to the Anhuali Community in Beijing's Chaoyang District and extended his regards to the residents. Xi told them he had to skip handshakes due to the epidemic situation, but stressed that "we should all be confident to overcome the epidemic."

On the same day, Xi talked via a video link to the medical staff on duty at Beijing Ditan Hospital. Noting that the nationwide efforts were gradually yielding positive results, Xi stressed that China has full confidence and capability to prevail over the epidemic and that the trend of the Chinese economy maintaining long-term growth will not change. 

Xi also displayed China's confidence to the international community. 

On January 28, Xi told visiting World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus that China has full confidence and capability to win the battle against the disease and the Chinese government has released information about the epidemic in a timely, open, transparent and responsible manner, and responded actively to concerns of all sides.

China's efforts are paying off 

China's efforts are paying off. A positive trend is emerging in the fight against the epidemic on the Chinese mainland as new virus infections in Wuhan City, other cities in Hubei Province and other Chinese provinces are reducing. 

In addition, no new confirmed cases were reported on Thursday in 14 provincial-level regions and the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps. Tibet Autonomous Region in southwest China has reported zero new confirmed cases since January 30 and northwestern Qinghai Province has reported no new cases in more than two weeks. 

China is resuming normal operation of road traffic in regions outside Hubei Province, and business and production are gradually resuming in cities across China.