An elderly patient is pushed along a corridor of the emergency ward at a hospital in Beijing, Dec. 31, 2022. [VOA, Photo]
Chinese President Xi Jinping called on Saturday for more effort and unity as the country enters a "new phase" in its approach to combating the pandemic, in his first comments to the public on COVID-19 since his government changed course three weeks ago and relaxed its rigorous policy of lockdowns and mass testing.