Premier Li stresses increased medical supplies for epidemic control

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and head of the leading group of the CPC Central Committee on the prevention and control of the novel coronavirus outbreak, inspects a medical supplies company in Haidian District of Beijing, capital of China, Feb. 21, 2020. Li Keqiang on Friday called for multiple measures to increase production and supply of medical and epidemic-control materials. (Xinhua/Ding Lin)

BEIJING, Feb. 21 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Li Keqiang on Friday called for multiple measures to increase the production and supply of medical and epidemic-control materials.

Li made the remarks while inspecting the production of medical supplies in Haidian District in Beijing.

More efforts should be made to support epidemic prevention and control, and to ensure the orderly resumption of work and production, said Li.

Li was briefed on the country's production and supply of key medical materials, including protective suits and masks. The daily production capacity of masks nationwide may exceed 100 million as additional production lines will become operational in the near future.

The premier urged related departments to offer coordinated services to encourage further expansion of production capacity and secure the supply of key epidemic-control materials.

While visiting a biotech firm, Li said masks are now not only "weapons" for medical workers and "shields" for the public, but also a guarantee for the orderly resumption of work and production.

Enterprises producing masks should race against time and work hard to expand production capacity while ensuring the quality of their products, he said.