Editor's Note:
China downgraded its COVID-19 management measures from Class A to Class B from January 8, 2023. This means China has entered a new phase of COVID response.
During the past three years, China launched a war against COVID-19, effectively handled more than 100 cluster outbreaks, and protected the lives and health of more than 1.4 billion people to the greatest extent.
Meanwhile, China has effectively coordinated COVID-19 prevention and control with economic and social development, with positive results seen and new achievements made on the two fronts, making it a reliable and important driving force of global economic growth.
We recorded the past three years with memorable photos. The special photo story has two parts. This is the second part: China is a leading growth engine for world economy amid COVID-19 control.
Villagers pluck chrysanthemum flowers in Jinxi Village of Xima Township, Longli County of Southwest China's Guizhou Province, October 27, 2020. Thanks to the chrysanthemum industry, 166 poverty-stricken households in Jinxi Village were lifted out of poverty in 2019. China has historically eradicated absolute poverty by the end of 2020. Photo: Xinhua 
On April 8, 2020, Wuhan lifted the lockdown that was imposed to prevent COVID-19 from spreading. One year later, GT reporters looked at how Wuhan residents are living, and looked back at past moments of this heroic city. Photo: Global Times 
Wuhan reborn: Thanks to the steady progress made in containing the COVID-19 epidemic, life has fully returned to normal in Wuhan, the first city in China to be struck by COVID-19, Photo took on August 30, 2020 shows business streets are full of customers and residents enjoyed themselves in a variety of activities. Photo: Global Times 
Before the Spring Festival, Global Times reporters visited several luxury shopping malls in Beijing and Shanghai on February 6, 2021, and found people so enthusiastic about shopping that many stores had long queues, some of which took more than half an hour to enter. As a result of the COVID-19 epidemic, the global luxury market has been hit hard, but the consumption of luxury goods in China has gone up. Photo: Global Times 
A grand gathering to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China (CPC) was held at the Tian’anmen Square in Beijing on July 1, 2021. A total of 15 J-20 stealth fighter jets soared overhead through the Beijing skies in formation and the Z-8L, a new type of large military transport helicopter, made its debut by hanging a CPC flag and leading the aerial performance during the CPC centenary celebrations. Members of the public watched and took pictures of the aerial formation over the ancient buildings of the Temple of Heaven Park. Photo: Global Times 
A ceremony marking the centenary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) was held at Tian’anmen Square in Beijing, capital of China, on July 1, 2021. Photo: Xinhua 
Photo took on August 1, 2021 shows Chinese sprinter Su Bingtian finished 6th in the men's 100m final with 9.98 seconds, the best result for an Asian athlete in the final race. Photo: Cui Meng/GT 
The 2021 China International Fair for Trade in Services (CIFTIS) which lasted from Sep 2 to Sep 7 was held at the China National Convention Center and Shougang Park in Beijing, with over 10,000 enterprises from 153 countries and regions registered for online and offline exhibitions. Photo: Li Hao/GT 
The UN Biodiversity Conference COP15 kicked off on October 11, 2021, in Kunming, Southwest China’s Yunnan Province. Photo: Li Hao/GT 
Strict COVID-19 prevention measures were implemented at the 4th CIIE in Shanghai on November 4, 2021 to ensure safety of the attendants, including temperature-taking "tents" that are set up at entrances. Photo: Global Times 
Photo took on February 24, 2022 shows the opening ceremony performance of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics brings the world cheer and color. The five-starred red flag of China is also raised at the ceremony. Photo: Li Hao/GT 
All units of the Baihetan hydropower station are operational since December 20, 2022, a major step forward for the world's second-largest in terms of total installed capacity. Photo shows the Baihetan Dam opened to release water in June 2022. Photo: Lin Xiaoyi/GT 
The 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) opened at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on October 16, 2022. Photo: Xinhua 
The Bayi Aerobatic Team of the PLA Air Force showcased flight performances at the 14th Airshow China on November 9, 2022 in Zhuhai, South China's Guangdong Province. Photo: Cui Meng/GT 
This image captured at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in Northwest China shows the Shenzhou-15 and Shenzhou-14 crew taking a group picture with their thumbs up after a historic gathering in space on November 30, 2022. Photo: Xinhua 
A C919 large passenger aircraft, China's first homegrown large jetliner, is pictured at Meilan International Airport in Haikou, South China's Hainan Province, on January 2, 2023. The aircraft, which belongs to China Eastern Airlines, landed at Meilan International Airport in Haikou as a part of the 100-hour aircraft validation flight process. Photo: Xinhua 
By mid-December 2022, China had provided anti-epidemic materials to 153 countries and 15 international organizations, sent medical expert groups to 34 countries, shared epidemic response knowledge with more than 180 countries and international organizations, and offered over 2.2 billion doses of COVID-19 vaccines to more than 120 countries and international organizations. Photo taken on April 23, 2020 shows the medical supplies donated by China in Kabul, Afghanistan. Photo: Xinhua 
Shougang Park in Beijing held a New Year countdown event on December 31, 2022, with a light show and some artistic performances. Ten minutes before the arrival of 2023, a screen began to light up the celebration picture of "Happy New Year” and the crowd started counting down to welcome the New Year. Photo: Li Hao/GT 
The first train of the 2023 Spring Festival travel rush in Beijing departed from Beijing West Railway Station on Jan 7, 2023. This year is expected to see about 2.095 billion passenger trips made during the Spring Festival travel rush, up 99.5 percent from 2022 level. Photo: Li Hao/GT 
China downgraded its COVID management measures from Class A to Class B since January 8, 2023 as the nation readies for normal life. The photo shows Beijing welcomed its first inbound flight carrying 291 passengers from Hong Kong at around 10:40 am, on January 8, 2023. Photo: Li Hao/GT
