As ‘zero COVID’ bites, China’s leadership sounds alarm on economy

Chinese officials are signalling growing concern about the toll strict pandemic restrictions and global uncertainties are taking on the economy [File: Qilai Shen/Bloomberg]

When Chinese Premier Li Keqiang called for a “sense of urgency” about growing economic risks during a meeting with provincial officials earlier this week, it was his third such warning in days.

“We need to be highly vigilant for unexpected changes in the international and domestic situations, and downward economic pressure has further mounted,” China’s No 2 official told a symposium in Jiangxi province on Monday, according to a report in South China Morning Post, less than a week after drawing attention to the “complicated and evolving” global situation and COVID-19 outbreaks at home.