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Coronavirus pandemic

China shells out $5.87 bln to battle coronavirus, plans to double outlays

China’s Assistant Minister of Finance Ou Wenhan stressed that the issue of financing should in no way affect the activity aimed to suppress the outbreak of the virus in Chinese regions

© Xiao Yijiu/Xinhua via AP

BEIJING, February 14. /TASS/. The Chinese government has spent 41 bln yuan (about $5.87 bln) on the fight against the novel coronavirus, planning to double the expenses to reach 80.55 bln yuan ($11.53 bln), China’s Assistant Minister of Finance Ou Wenhan said on Friday.

"We are allocating more money to facilitate the fight against pneumonia," he said during a press conference. "We have ordered all financial bodies at all levels to prioritize healthcare and human safety."

The official stressed that the issue of financing should in no way affect the activity aimed to suppress the outbreak of the virus in Chinese regions. He added that the Chinese government regularly improves allocation of resources.

"We will win in the fight against coronavirus, and we will implement the plan for social-economic development for the current year," he concluded.

Read also

Chinese authorities correct statistics on death toll from new coronavirus

On December 31, Chinese authorities informed the World Health Organization (WHO) about an outbreak of an unknown pneumonia in the city of Wuhan - a large trade and industrial center in central China populated by 11 million people. The source of the outbreak is the COVID-19 coronavirus. The disease spread to 24 more countries apart from China - Australia, Belgium, Cambodia, Canada, Finland, France, Germany, Japan, India, Italy, Malaysia, Nepal, the Philippines, Russia, Singapore, South Korea, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Thailand, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, the United States and Vietnam. WHO declared the coronavirus outbreak in China a global health emergency.

Currently, the total number of people infected with coronavirus exceeds 63,800 in China with 1,380 people reported to have died from the disease. Meanwhile, over 6,700 people are said to have recovered from it.

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Trump seeks to restore peace in entire world — transition team on Putin’s address

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Putin confirms Russia’s readiness to assist CAR with security challenges

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Putin orders protection of critical infrastructure, including Crimean Bridge — Kremlin

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Russian troops have taken new lines and positions northwest of Zolotaryoka as a result of successful operations

West’s decision on missile strikes gives Russia free hand to attack NATO bases — expert

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Biden's decision to use ATACMS on Russia threatens to kill Americans — Tucker Carlson

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Ukrainian frontline may 'collapse' under onslaught of Russian forces — BBC

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Russian troops liberate Ilyinka community in Donbass region over past day

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Preliminary data shows anti-ship missile downed over Sevastopol waters — official

Governor Mikhail Razvozhayev said that all emergencies services currently work in the high alert mode

US strategic forces ready for Biden-Trump transition — Pentagon

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Xi Jinping calls for unification of more voices for peace in Ukraine

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Humanitarian situation in Gorlovka harsh as Ukraine targets key infrastructure — DPR head

More than 80,000 users were left without power in Gorlovka on Tuesday morning due to the Ukrainian armed forces' shelling

Biden's decision on missile strikes on Russia is his 'last gasp' — Japanese lawmaker

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China holds US responsible for disrupted defense ministers' meeting in Laos

Wu Qian stated that the United States must immediately correct its mistakes, "honestly respect China’s main interests, and seek to create favorable conditions for high-level contacts between the military of the two countries"

Press review: US lets Kiev use anti-personnel mines and Iran may halt uranium enrichment

Top stories from the Russian press on Thursday, November 21st

Russia to use revenues from frozen assets of Western investors — Finance Minister

Tit-for-tat measures will be implemented after receiving information about unfriendly actions of Western countries, Anton Siluanov noted

Russian ambassador says UK prime minister doesn’t understand situation in Ukraine

Turning to the Labour Party’s domestic policies, Andrey Kelin said Starmer’s plans to spur the economy were "not met with applause by the population

Russian troops raise flag in central Kurakhovo in Donetsk region — politician

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French Foreign Ministry refuses to disclose number of SCALP missiles shipped to Ukraine

Ministry Spokesman Christophe Lemoine also avoided answering if Paris supports strikes with these missiles on Russian territory, only saying that the missiles were shipped to Ukraine, and Ukraine

Russian troops advance in areas north, south of Velikaya Novoselka in DPR — official

Earlier, Vladimir Rogov stated that a successful offensive by the Russian Armed Forces north of Velikaya Novoselka could allow them to encircle the settlement

Trump seeks to restore peace in entire world — transition team on Putin’s address

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Defeating Ukrainian forces near Olgovskaya wood, enemy losses: situation in Kursk Region

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Russia’s revised nuclear doctrine makes defeat over its army impossible — SVR chief

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US makes mistake by destroying INF Treaty — Putin

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Soyuz rocket carrying Progress MS-29 cargo spaceship blasts off from Baikonur spaceport

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Russia fires ballistic, non-nuclear-tipped missile at Ukrainian aerospace plant — Putin

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US Congressman urges to impeach Biden for allowing strikes deep into Russia

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West launched missiles targeting Russia’s Bryansk, Kursk Regions — Putin

Russian air defenses repulsed all attacks, the Russian president said

Ukraine has around 50 ATACMS missiles — The Times

According to the report, the Ukrainian military has sufficient launchers that are capable of firing them

Russian forces dislodge Ukrainian troops from half of positions in Kurakhovo in DPR

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Russian embassy warns UK about dangers of calling for Moscow’s ‘defeat’

According to th statement, London is promoting new rounds of escalation