Attempts to politicize sporting events, and disturb and sabotage the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics are futile and doomed to fail, said a spokesperson for China's top political advisory body on Wednesday, who also addressed a range of issues from Hong Kong to Chinese vaccines.

Guo Weimin, spokesperson for the fourth session of the 13th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), made the remarks at a press conference held in Beijing.

On attempts to politicize, sabotage Beijing Winter Olympics

Certain foreign politicians have politicized sports and tried to disturb and sabotage the preparations for and holding of the 2022 Olympic Winter Games. "Such attempts run against the spirit of the Olympic Charter," said Guo.

"We believe these attempts will not have the support of the international community and are futile and doomed to fail," he said, adding that the International Olympic Committee and leaders of various countries have expressed their objections to these voices.

Guo said that, despite the COVID-19 pandemic, the preparation work for the 2022 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games is going ahead smoothly and all competition venues are now ready.

He expressed the confidence that efforts will be made to coordinate the COVID-19 containment and the preparations for the Games, so that all preparatory work will be fully completed on schedule.

The Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter Games will take place from February 4 to 20 and the Paralympic Winter Games from March 4 to 13.

Importance of "patriots governing Hong Kong"

"Patriots governing Hong Kong" is the essence and fundamental principle of "one country, two systems," Guo said.

The purposes of adopting and implementing the law on safeguarding national security in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) and improving the electoral system of the HKSAR are both to uphold and improve "one country, two systems" and to ensure its steady and sustained development in a right direction, he continued.

Accusation against China's vaccine export "narrow-minded"

The claim that China exports COVID-19 vaccines to expand geopolitical clout is narrow-minded, the spokesperson pointed out.

China has pledged to make vaccines global public goods, and has encouraged Chinese enterprises to cooperate with relevant countries in vaccine research, development and production, Guo Weimin told the press conference.

China has joined COVAX and is actively promoting the fair distribution of vaccines globally, Guo said, adding that as of the end of February, China has provided vaccine aid to 69 countries and two international organizations and exported vaccines to 28 countries.

China has advanced international cooperation on vaccines to fight the pandemic, showing its commitment to building a community with a shared future for mankind, Guo said.

As COVID-19 cases continue to rage globally, China is willing to work with other countries and shoulder its responsibility in protecting the safety and health of people around the world, Guo added.

China always puts vaccine safety, efficacy first

China always puts the safety and efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines first, the spokesperson said.

China's technical standards of application for market rollout and conditional market approval meet requirements of the World Health Organization and a number of developed countries, said Guo Weimin at the press conference.

China's COVID-19 vaccines have been approved for use in many other countries, with some foreign leaders taking the lead in vaccination, Guo added. 

More than 52 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines had been administered across China as of the end of February, and the country had provided vaccine assistance to 69 countries and two international organizations, Guo revealed. 

On personal information security

Chinese political advisors attach great importance to personal information security and privacy protection, having done a lot of work in recent years in this regard, Guo told the press conference.

Multiple members of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) have submitted relevant proposals, Guo said, adding that the CPPCC held a teleconference on personal information protection and a symposium on AI-related ethical and legal issues last year.

Political advisors proposed accelerating efforts to improve laws and intensify supervision and law enforcement to crack down upon activities that infringe on personal privacy and personal information security, Guo added.

The annual session of the top political advisory body is scheduled to open on Thursday, a day before the 13th National People's Congress, China's top legislature, starts its fourth annual session.

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