Senior Chinese leader Li Changchun Friday called on the country's state-run mass media to help unite the people and boost public morale in the fight against severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS).
Addressing a meeting of leading officials of state-run national media organizations, Li said China needed to promote the national spirit more than ever in the fight against SARS to deal with the disease.
Li, member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Chinese Communist Party's Central Committee, described the disease as an unexpected national disaster.
He said the outstanding figures in the country's battle against SARS were the backbone of the Chinese people, who reflected the great national spirit.
No difficulty was unconquerable so long as China gave full play to its political advantage characterized by the leadership of the Party and the national spirit, as well as scientific and truth-seeking spirit and the all-out struggle against the disease by scientists, said Li.
He called for efforts to educate the public on hygiene and promote physical exercise and improve the country's medical systems and health care.
(Xinhua News Agency April 26, 2003)
