![]() ![]() Some government-linked analysts have called on the authorities to provide cash handouts to consumers like what the US and other countries did to spur spending, while others argue more favorable policies should be given to small businesses and the property sector to preserve jobs.When Hua Guofeng – Mao Zedong’s designated successor – arranged the arrest of the Gang of Four (a political faction) shortly after the Chairman’s death on 9 September 1976, he brought the Cultural Revolution to an end and cleared the way for an unparalleled period of economic growth, starting with the “Four Modernisations” – a policy aimed at strengthening China’s competence in agriculture, industry, national defence, and science and technology. Chinese leaders have made boosting domestic demand a top priority this year, as geopolitical tensions remain while concerns rise that the global economy could enter recession. Now that the country has abruptly dropped the Covid-Zero strategy and started reopening its borders, economists broadly expect consumption to rebound robustly later this year after infections peak, helped by a low comparison base but also as pent-up demand is unleashed and economic activity picks up. Chinese households also cut back on spending to save more amid soaring unemployment and a gloomy income outlook. It also pledged to redirect more medical supplies to rural areas and urged people to get vaccinated.Ĭonsumption was a main drag on the economy last year as shops and restaurants were shut repeatedly and travel was restricted due to Covid outbreaks and lockdowns. China’s National Health Commission has also asked larger hospitals in cities to help out rural clinics and called for strengthening the mechanisms to transfer severely ill patients in rural areas to intensive care at higher-level medical institutions. Neighbors should also look after each other in this difficult time, sharing medicines and antiseptics or helping with groceries and sending the sick to hospitals. It also asked villagers and farmers to reduce gatherings and wear masks when visiting elderly relatives and to practice good hygiene. The government also has made a plea to migrant workers and students to delay their trip back home if they are infected. ![]() The country’s vast rail network has boosted its passenger capacity by 11% from 2019 levels. Transport authorities are adding more flights and transport options to ferry not just people but also medical supplies, grains and fuel to handle expected higher demand ahead. Many are already struggling with a sudden spike in febrile patients and pneumonia cases among the elderly. Rural China is bracing for a tsunami of infections at its understaffed and under-resourced hospitals and clinics. The frenetic travel will give the highly contagious omicron variant another boost across the vast country of 1.4 billion. 21 that more than 1.1 billion people had been infected since virus controls were abruptly dismantled late last year. China’s chief epidemiologist, Wu Zunyou, suggested on Jan. While that’s an exponential jump from the previous official tally, experts estimate the true figure is likely in the hundreds of thousands. Almost 60,000 people died from Covid-related causes between Dec. China’s abrupt ditching of strict Covid controls in December fueled a surge of infections in major cities, prompting people to stay home as they fell ill or feared becoming infected. Xu Chengguang, the vice transport minister, put it bluntly: this will be a New Year’s travel rush fraught with uncertainty, complexity and challenges. (In comparison, AAA estimated 113 million people in the US traveled from Dec. Hong Kong set a daily quota of 60,000 people to travel to the mainland, which was then raised for land crossings. ![]() This year is expected to see not only people swarming out of Beijing, Shanghai and Shenzhen, but also the Chinese diaspora rushing in from near and far. 7.) Previously, when travel was officially discouraged, many people stayed put, which created tremendous pent-up demand for homecomings. (The travel rush - known as Chunyun in Chinese, or spring transport - covers 40 days around the Lunar New Year some 34.7 million domestic trips were made on the first day this year, Jan. Officials estimate the number of trips over the holiday period will hit 2.1 billion - double that of last year, but still just 70% of the level seen in 2019. It’s expected to be no-holds barred as the government has jettisoned travel curbs: No more testing to board trains, planes, ferries or shuttle buses for domestic travel no more quarantine for inbound travelers. ![]()
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