President Xi Jinping participates in a discussion with National People's Congress deputies from Hubei province on May 24, 2020 in Beijing. [Photo/Xinhua]

Disease control, prevention crucial for social stability, national security

China will reform its disease prevention and control system to improve the capabilities in pandemic monitoring and emergency response, President Xi Jinping said on May 24.

The prevention of major pandemics and resolving public health risks are of great significance for national security and social stability, which should be planned from an overall perspective, Xi said.

Xi, who is also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remarks while speaking with deputies from Hubei province at the third session of the 13th National People's Congress, China's top legislature.

China's health systems have played an important role in dealing with the novel coronavirus outbreak, but shortcomings have also been exposed, Xi said, adding that more reform measures are needed to plug gaps.

Xi pointed out that prevention is the most effective and economic strategy, and the operation of disease prevention institutions should be improved.

Xi said the system of surveillance for unknown diseases and abnormal health incidents should be reformed and risks should be analyzed at an early stage. He also instructed authorities to strengthen capacity building in the response to outbreaks.

Coordinated efforts must be made in the response of hospitals, cooperation between regions and mobilization of personnel in emergencies, Xi said, adding that the building of national and regional medical centers should be strengthened.

He instructed authorities to speed up the creation of a comprehensive set of public health laws and regulations and improve the system for enforcing laws on disease prevention and control.