2月10日早间英语播报:Xi urges joint efforts to fight epidemic

Eighteen patients with the novel coronavirus pneumonia in Wuhan recovered and were released from a hospital in Wuhan, Hubei province, on Feb 6, 2020. [Photo by Zhu Xingxin/chinadaily.com.cn] 

President says nation's strong measures contribute to international public safety

President Xi Jinping said on Thursday that China will continue to work with other countries to fight the novel coronavirus outbreak in an open and transparent manner, and called on countries around the world to abide by the recommendations of the World Health Organization.

Xi made the remarks in a telephone conversation with Saudi Arabian King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud on Thursday evening.

Xi thanked the Saudi king for the firm support of his country for China's efforts in the fight against the virus, and said the move demonstrates the true friendship and the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries.

Since the start of the outbreak, China has taken the most comprehensive and rigorous measures to combat the contagion, and has launched a people's war against the virus, Xi said, adding that the prevention and control efforts have produced positive results.

Xi said the strong measures the country has taken not only aim to protect the health of the Chinese people, but also contribute to global public safety.

He expressed the hope that countries around the world will understand and abide by the recommendations made by the WHO on travel and health.

China considers the health and safety of foreigners to be highly important, including those from Saudi Arabia, and will continue to take effective measures to protect their working and living conditions, Xi said.

He said that China will continue to work with other countries, including Saudi Arabia, to effectively deal with the epidemic and jointly uphold global and regional public health security.

The Saudi king extended his sympathy to China over the epidemic and said his country highly appreciates the strong measures China has taken to deal with the outbreak and is confident that China will win the battle against the contagion.

Saudi Arabia will stand with China whatever happens, the Saudi king said, adding that at a time when China is in difficulties, his country will make all-out efforts to provide support and assistance to China.

Normal production urged

Normal production should be resumed in an orderly manner as China continues to prevent and control the novel coronavirus, a meeting chaired by Premier Li Keqiang in Beijing on Thursday decided.

Participants at the meeting of the leading group of the Communist Party of China Central Committee on coping with the outbreak said the production resumption will provide better support for epidemic prevention efforts as well as maintaining normal economic and social order, according to a statement released after the meeting.

As of Wednesday, the accumulated number of confirmed cases of novel coronavirus rose to 28,018 on the Chinese mainland, including 563 deaths, with 3,859 people in critical condition. Of those, 19,665 infections and 549 deaths occurred in Hubei province.

The increase of new confirmed cases has remained stable with a low fatality rate in other places in China except Hubei, the meeting said, requiring resources to be allocated in a reasonable way to avoid unnecessary panic.

Companies are encouraged to find ways to decrease the population density in workplaces and adopt shift work operation to ensure full production, the statement said.

Officials will be sent to priority enterprises to urge them to operate at full capacity and help to solve problems such as the shortage of machines, labor and finance, it said.

Contingency plans will be made to ensure the supply of coal, electricity, oil and gas in case the intensive resumption of production may lead to their short supply in some regions or periods of time or the surge of prices, the statement said.

The meeting highlighted the need to make targeted efforts in dealing with the outbreak as the novel coronavirus-related epidemic control in Hubei province and especially Wuhan, the outbreak's epicenter, remain the priorities.

In order to enhance the city's ability to receive and treat patients, various measures will continue to be adopted in Wuhan to add hospital beds and medical workers from outside will be assigned to the city for help, the statement said.

As for other places in Hubei, specialized hospitals and quarantine sites will be set up to provide more beds for patients, it said.

Find more audio news on the China Daily app.

记者：曹德胜、莫竞西

播报：Jocelyn Eikenburg

原文链接：

https://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202002/07/WS5e3c81dea310128217275978.html

【阅读背景】

习近平同沙特国王萨勒曼通电话

新华社北京2月6日电6日晚，国家主席习近平应约同沙特国王萨勒曼通电话。

　　习近平指出，在中国抗击新型冠状病毒感染肺炎疫情的关键时刻，国王陛下和沙方多次表示予以中方坚定支持，充分体现了中沙两国的真挚友谊和全面战略伙伴关系的高水平，我对此深表赞赏。中方愿同沙方相互支持彼此核心利益和重大关切，推动双边关系得到更大发展。

　　习近平强调，疫情发生以来，中方举国行动，全国上下一心，全力应对，采取了最彻底、最严格的防控举措，打响了一场疫情防控的人民战争。目前，我们的防控工作正在取得积极成效。中国有强大的动员能力，有应对公共卫生事件的丰富经验，有信心、有能力打赢这场疫情防控阻击战。中方采取的强有力措施，不仅在对中国人民健康负责，同时也是对世界公共安全的巨大贡献。希望各国及时了解和遵从世界卫生组织关于旅行和卫生的指导意见。中方高度重视在华沙特人等所有外国公民的健康与安全，会继续采取有效措施，保障好他们的工作和生活条件。中方将继续本着公开、透明的态度，同包括沙特在内的各国一道，共同有效应对疫情，维护世界和地区公共卫生安全。

　　萨勒曼代表沙特政府和人民向中国正在进行的抗击新型冠状病毒感染肺炎疫情斗争表示坚定支持，对疫情造成的损失向友好的中国人民表示慰问。萨勒曼表示，沙方高度赞赏中国政府为应对疫情采取的有力措施，相信中国一定会取得抗击疫情的胜利。沙方高度重视同中国的全面战略伙伴关系，在任何情况下都将同中方坚定地站在一起。在当前中国面临困难之际，沙方愿全力以赴，向中方抗击疫情提供支持和帮助。沙方期待同中方加强友好合作。
 

中文来源：新华每日电讯

中文链接：

http://www.xinhuanet.com/politics/leaders/2020-02/06/c_1125540042.htm