Thanks to hard work, the nation's epidemic prevention and control efforts have shown positive changes, but domestic virus control and economic development under the influence of a deepening global outbreak remain a challenge, Chinese President Xi Jinping said on Wednesday.

President Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, made the remarks when chairing a meeting of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee on analyzing the situation of COVID-19 prevention and control as well as economic development at home and abroad. 

Noting that fresh challenges have emerged from the rapid spread of coronavirus outside China, Xi urged timely and decisive adjustments and control measures. He also stressed that the target of eradicating poverty should be met as planned so as to achieve the goal of building a moderately prosperous society.

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Xi urged people to remain vigilant and make unremitting efforts in epidemic prevention and control work, calling for continuous efforts to strengthen international and regional cooperation, expand good communication with the World Health Organization (WHO) and enhance the guidance for overseas citizens.

The meeting also stressed precise and differentiated strategies in the fight against the novel coronavirus epidemic, with different regions taking different measures based on their own conditions.

Hubei Province, as well as its capital city Wuhan, should be safeguarded with resolute efforts, while epidemic prevention and control in key regions, such as Beijing, should be strengthened as well.

The meeting also called for efforts to prevent imported cases, improve data release and sharing mechanisms, and implement effective control measures at borders, on air transportation, port inspection, delivery services and closed-loop quarantine system.

As China's economy is facing mounting downward pressure, the meeting required Party committees and governments at all levels to maintain social order and boost economic development in accordance with the overall virus prevention and control policies.

Resumption of work and production should be actively promoted so as to minimize the losses stemming from the COVID-19, it added.

In addition, the meeting emphasized the need for analysis of the global economic situation in order to design relevant policies accordingly.