Chinese New Government Acts Responsibly in Combat against SARS

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Wednesday, April 30, 2003

Chinese New Government Acts Responsibly in Combat against SARS

Though China's new government is only a month old, its performance in the combat against the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) has drawn a positive response from the public.

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Though China's new government is only a month old, its performance in the combat against the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) has drawn a positive response from the public.

Last Saturday, Premier Wen Jiabao visited Beijing University and had lunch with the students in the dining hall.

At his first press conference as premier, Wen recited the poetic line of Lin Zexu, a noted patriotic official of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911):"I will do whatever it takes to serve my country even at the cost of my own life, regardless of fortune or misfortune to myself."

When the students brought it up, Wen Jiabao became excited. "The new government encountered great hardship just after its formation, which makes me feel an enormous responsibility, and I have been trying to put the mantra into practice everyday."

On the same Day, Premier Wen and other senior officials also inspected some construction sites, supermarkets and residential communities in Beijing to encourage more concerted efforts in the fight against SARS.

The sudden outbreak of SARS has posed such a serious challenge to the new government that it is regarded as "a smokeless war".

According to the latest statistics, more than 3,300 people have been infected with SARS virus and at least 148 people have died of the disease on the Chinese mainland.

Well-known for their "human kindness", the new government officials are personally extending their warm concern to people threatened by SARS epidemic.

In mid-April, President Hu Jintao inspected Beijing Street in Guangzhou, the most overcrowded downtown area of this capital city of south China's Guangdong province.

He kept waving to local people, saying, "I am very worried about the SARS situation, and I feel very anxious."

Wen Jiabao has also visited a number of schools and kindergartens in the capital of Beijing to inspect their prevention work.

In a hospital in Beijing, Wen bowed to the medical workers to express his gratitude for the sacrifices they have made.

Accompanying Premier Wen on these inspection tours was Chinese Vice-Premier Wu Yi, who was appointed on April 26 to serve concurrently as Chinese minister of health, replacing Zhang Wenkang.

"Avoid crowded places and get more physical exercise," Wu said to a child during a visit to a Beijing family. She regards the combat against SARS as the "biggest event" at the present time.

"Only those who truly love the common people have the strong sense of responsibility towards the whole nation," a netizen called "Molangzi" said online.

In order to more effectively check the spread of SARS disease, the Chinese government has resorted to a range of measures, such as establishing an accurate reporting system, allocating special funds, and suspending the week-long May Day holiday.

"The new government's policy indicates it feels extremely responsible for the people," said Li Ruopeng, a doctoral student from the government administration college of Beijing University, who talked face-to-face with Premier Wen during the latter's visit to the dining hall.

"The new government's efforts in combating SARS constitutes a strong start in building a responsible government," Li said.

Meanwhile, the government has readily accepted comments from overseas, especially critical views.

In response to the World Health Organization (WHO) experts' suggestions that the SARS situation in the city be reported in a more detailed manner so as to make the citizens better informed and protected, the Beijing municipal government publicized the names of quarantined areas and populations in detail and invited the WHO experts to serve as advisors on SARS control.

Experts' suggestions regarding migrant workers' health, SARS control in western China and building a sound public health system have all been treated seriously by the Chinese government, as evidenced by its recent policies.

More notably, the Chinese government has requested the resignations of a number of leading officials due to their inadequate work in SARS prevention and control, including Zhang Wenkang, the former minister of health, and Meng Xuenong, the former Beijing Mayor.

Local media in Beijing carried an article on the new government's performance on SARS, which says that the new government has taken into account the people's views and social response when making decisions.

The article also says that the performance and attitude of the government in combating SARS indicates that the new government is a highly responsible one.

For many, the SARS outbreak is reminiscent of the Asian Financial Crisis in 1997-98 and the heavy flooding in 1998.

"We should not complain, but rise to the challenge," Premier Wen said.

SARS has had a great impact on China's trade, tourism, social life and diplomatic affairs. "As long as we continue our efforts, the situation will improve soon," Wen said with confidence.

The fight against SARS is expected to accumulate precious experience for the new government and could potentially be a good start for their work, observers say.

Mao Shoulong, a prestigious political scholar, cited the SARS outbreak as an epitome of the psychological state of the Chinese people, and the relationship between the government and people has become even closer during the course of the combat.

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