China's dynamic zero-COVID approach is crucial to protect people's lives and to minimize the pandemic's impact on socioeconomic development, a Cambodian scholar has said.

In an interview with Xinhua, Joseph Matthews, a senior professor at the BELTEI International University in Phnom Penh, said that since the outbreak of COVID-19, China has always put the people and their lives first and worked hard to prevent both inbound cases and domestic resurgences.

China has been upholding a dynamic zero-COVID policy, the essence of which is early detection and quick response measures to stop the continuous spread of the virus in communities to protect people's health and lives to the greatest extent.

Matthews said through this approach and the constantly adjusted epidemic prevention and control measures in light of new developments, China has achieved major strategic progress against COVID-19.

"I think that as a populous country with a large number of senior citizens, unbalanced development between different regions, and insufficient medical resources, China will definitely see a wide range of infections if China eases up on epidemic prevention and control," Matthews said.

China's dynamic zero-COVID policy "is the best choice and the right decision for the country in order to prevent a huge number of severe cases and deaths, which could severely threaten social and economic development as well as people's health and safety," he said.

Produced by Xinhua Global Service

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