Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, on Thursday chaired a leadership meeting on the effective implementation of regular epidemic prevention and control measures. 

The meeting of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee also studied measures to boost the stability and competitiveness of industrial and supply chains. 

At present, China is faced with the arduous task of preventing imported cases and resurgence at home, President Xi pointed out, calling for continued efforts to overcome sluggishness and indifference, and ensure that the target of eradicating poverty is met as planned so as to build a moderately prosperous society in all respects. 

"We must never allow our hard-earned achievements on epidemic control to be made in vain," Xi stressed. "We must ensure the victory in the battle against extreme poverty and the completion of the building of a moderately prosperous society in all respects."

Meanwhile, the government should step up targeted prevention and control measures for coronavirus cluster cases in northeast China's Heilongjiang and Jilin Provinces, Xi emphasized. 

China will also take more flexible measures to prevent imported coronavirus cases, as Xi demanded Hubei Province and its capital Wuhan City to verify every case with nucleic acid test. He also urged Beijing to strengthen the prevention and control measures during next weeks' "Two Sessions", annual sessions of China's national legislature and political advisory body. 

More guidance needs to be issued to help fight against the virus at schools and hospitals, Xi added.

The meeting required local governments to ensure that efforts to prevent and control COVID-19 are fully implemented, and continue to deepen international cooperation on containment measures. 

(Cover: A worker gets his swab sample collected in Wen'an County, Hebei Province, May 12, 2020. /Xinhua)