While the coronavirus continues to ravage the world, China has held a commendation and awards ceremony to sing praises for the country’s response to the pandemic and honor its outstanding contributions.

Speaking at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, Chinese President Xi Jinping gave an 80-minute speech, applauding China’s role in “leading the world in economic recovery and in the fight against COVID-19.”

“We have passed an extraordinary and historic test,” Xi praised the country for a “heroic struggle” against the virus. China has acted in an open and transparent manner in regard to the breakout of the coronavirus, Xi asserted in response to the ongoing transparency criticism from other countries.

Xi did not shy away from putting a new spin on the global public health crisis first broke out in China. “The major strategic achievements gained from China’s fight against COVID-19 has fully demonstrated the remarkable advantages of the leadership of the Chinese Communist Party and socialism.”

Hui Ching, research director of the Hong Kong Zhi Ming Institute, said the ceremony served to promote China’s values to the West while reinforcing solidarity among Chinese people. The nation’s propaganda machine focused its praise on the CCP’s authority, instead of Xi’s leadership.

It is not unusual for China to hold similar events ahead of Oct. 1, China’s National Day, to create a celebratory atmosphere, Hui added.

Three medical professionals received the national honorary title of “the People’s Hero”, namely Zhang Boli, a traditional Chinese medicine expert who presided over research of COVID-19 treatment, Zhang Dingyu, head of Wuhan’s Jinyintan Hospital, and Chen Wei, an epidemiologist and a doctoral supervisor at the Academy of Military Medical Sciences.

As all three hold important titles in the party, by recognizing their roles, the CCP is reaffirming its own achievements for the purpose of consolidating support and loyalty, said Hui.

Given China was the birthplace of the coronavirus and countries around the world are still struggling with the pandemic, the high-profile commendation award may trigger a backlash from the international community, he added.

The CCP has mobilized its resources, including the military, in response to the outbreak and might have achieved better results in terms of containing the pandemic, Hui continued. Yet, in terms of transparency, China was accused of concealing the outbreak and withholding critical information in the early stages.

“If the country fails to improve the hygiene of wet markets and allow wildlife consumption, widely recognized as the cause of the outbreak, to continue, it will likely attract further criticism,” Hui said.

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