COVID-19: The command system in China

A centralized and efficient command system forms a strong guarantee for China to win the all-out people's war against COVID-19, a white paper detailing China's fight against the disease states.

Entitled "Fighting COVID-19: China in Action," the official document was released on Sunday by China's State Council Information Office.

All local authorities and sectors follow the leadership and instructions of the central authorities, perform their respective duties and cooperate with each other, the white paper noted.

President Xi takes charge of COVID-19 response

After the outbreak began, Chinese President Xi Jinping attached great importance to epidemic prevention and control while emphasizing the need to make people's lives and health the top priority, the white paper outlined.

Xi Jinping's action plan for defeating COVID-19, achieving development goals

Calling on the whole nation to be united, take science-based and targeted measures against the epidemic and have confidence in conquering the virus, the white paper detailed, the Chinese president is determined to fight and win the battle against the epidemic by mobilizing all resources and blocking the spread of virus.

According to the white paper, Xi presided over 14 meetings of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, four meetings of the Political Bureau and many other meetings at the central leadership level.

He adjusted response measures in view of the evolving COVID-19 dynamics, and made decisions on overall plans for strengthening control efforts and international cooperation, it added.

Meanwhile, Xi also inspected community response and COVID-19 scientific research efforts in Beijing and traveled to Wuhan to guide the frontline response.

He also made inspection tours to provinces of Zhejiang, Shanxi and Shaanxi, on which he was briefed on progress in coordinating epidemic prevention and control with economic and social development as well as poverty alleviation.

Well-coordinated and inter-connected

Premier Li Keqiang, who is also the head of the leading group of the CPC Central Committee on the prevention and control of the epidemic, presided over more than 30 the leading group meetings to discuss key issues concerning COVID-19 control as well as economic and social development, the white paper noted.

It added that the Central Steering Group responded swiftly to guide Hubei Province and Wuhan City to intensify front line control efforts.

According to the white paper, the Joint Prevention and Control Mechanism of the State Council has played the coordinating role and held regular meetings to keep abreast of the epidemic situation, dispatch medical personnel and allocate medical supplies.