(CNN) — Chinese President Xi Jinping has acknowledged the country’s frustration with his government’s relentless “zero covid-19” strategy, a European Union official told CNN, in his first known statements on the protests that erupted across the country. in recent days.
Xi told European Council President Charles Michel on Thursday during his visit to Beijing that the protesters were “mainly students” frustrated after three years of Covid-19, and hinted at a possible easing of lockdown measures. she told CNN on Friday.
“Xi also said that omicron (variant) is less deadly than delta, making the Chinese government more open to further easing COVID-19 restrictions,” the EU official said.
The official spoke on condition of anonymity, citing European professional standards.
However, the official could not confirm whether Xi said the word “protest” in Mandarin, nor indicate exactly what words the Chinese leader used to describe the recent unrest over the restrictions.
A series of unusual demonstrations has rocked China in recent days as the country nears the end of a third year of strict controls on civilian life.
The latest wave of protests is unprecedented since the Tiananmen Square democracy movement of 1989. Since Xi came to power in 2012, the Communist Party has tightened its grip on all aspects of life, carrying out a broad crackdown on dissent and it has built a high-tech surveillance state.
Xi’s remarks come as parts of China show signs of easing some Covid-19 restrictions, including lifting lockdowns and allowing some infected patients to quarantine at home, following widespread anti-lockdown protests worldwide.
Foreign officials have witnessed Beijing’s change in anti-pandemic restrictions. US Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman said on Friday that widespread protests in China “had an effect” in easing some Covid-19 rules.
Speaking at an event at American University, Sherman noted that the protests had subsided, saying part of the reason was that they “really had an effect,” citing the example of China allowing people to self-quarantine. at House.
“At the same time, I’m not naive and the Chinese have used their security forces to put down the protests,” she added.
“So it’s not just good news,” Sherman said. “But protests are important.”
Residents queue for covid-19 tests at a residential complex in Hohhot, Inner Mongolia, China on Dec. 1, 2022. Credit: Noel Celis/AFP/Getty Images
Beginning next Monday, Beijing’s public transportation operators will no longer ban passengers from entering unless they have a negative covid-19 test result in the previous 48 hours, the municipal government said in a notice on Friday.
The new rule, which applies to buses and the subway, represents a change in the tightening of the city’s containment measures announced 10 days ago.
However, the country has yet to announce any plans to reopen and lift the myriad of covid-19 restrictions across the country.
China’s covid-19 response chief told health authorities on Wednesday that the country was facing a “new phase and mission” in controlling the pandemic.
“With the toxicity of the omicron variant decreasing, the vaccination rate increasing, and the experience in epidemic control and prevention accumulating, the containment of the pandemic in China is facing a new phase and a new mission,” he said. Vice Premier Sun Chunlan. he said, according to the state-run Xinhua news agency.
— CNN’s Jennifer Hansler contributed to this report.
