Chinese President Xi Jinping told the European Union's delegation that the most recent nationwide protests, which consisted mostly of students, are a result of the citizens' frustrations over the COVID-19 measures, the Wall Street Journal reported on Friday citing European officials briefed on the matter. Xi also highlighted that the pandemic has entered a less deadly phase.
According to the officials, the comments were made when European Council President Charles Michel, during his visit to Beijing, asked Xi about the country's COVID policies. Michel "pleaded for use of vaccines and then raised the question of China’s measures and government measures," one of the officials revealed.
The West has been calling on China to reconsider its strict zero-COVID policy, as the latest shutdowns in the country have raised worries over issues with global supply chains.
