Xi calls for unity as China enters COVID 'new phase'

STORY: The comments were Xi's first to the public regarding China;'s COVID-19 policy since Beijing scrapped a strict zero-COVID approach following unprecedented protests.

He said it was "normal" for such a big country to have different people with "different demands and different views".

In the televised speech he also assured the public that the economy remains resilient and described it as "full of vitality".