BEIJING shrugged off International Monetary Fund (IMF) warnings about the economic impact of its aggressive anti-Covid policy, saying today that China has achieved “significant results” and is a key driver of global growth.

The IMF lowered its growth outlook for China and the rest of the world yesterday and said Beijing’s zero Covid policy – which has seen entire cities locked down over a handful of cases – has spurred a slowdown in the world’s second-largest economy. 

It might be time for Beijing to “recalibrate” its stance in order to ease pressure on global supply chains and economic growth, the fund’s newly installed first deputy managing director Gita Gopinath told AFP.

But Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said the country’s “status as an important engine of global economic growth has not changed,” adding that Beijing has achieved “significant results” in its economic rebound and boosting global economic recovery.

“China has always adopted scientific, comprehensive and effective prevention and control measures,” he told reporters.

IMF cut 0.8 points off China’s expected growth this year, forecasting it at 4.8% in the quarterly update to its World Economic Outlook. Global growth was reduced by half a point from the Fund’s October estimate. 

Although the Chinese economy made a quick rebound after the virus first emerged in central Wuhan city, growth in the final three months last year slowed to 4% with the economy shaken by a series of shocks towards the end of last year.

Economists have cautioned that growth is under pressure in the country, partly because of renewed Covid outbreaks and restrictions.

China reported 24 domestic coronavirus cases today, more than half in the capital Beijing.

Although numbers are low compared with those in other countries, Beijing’s zero Covid approach has seen harsh local lockdowns imposed over handfuls of cases.

Many restrictions have hit port cities, manufacturing centres or financial hubs, clogging crucial points in China’s supply and production chains. – AFP, January 26, 2022.