Summary of the Essential Eight:

1. Covid and reopening

2. PRC denies lack of transparency - Foreign Ministry spokesperson says it all: “At the moment, China’s COVID situation is under control. As China adjusts its COVID response policy, we will continue to carry out activities including technical exchanges with the WHO. It is hoped that the WHO Secretariat will take a science-based, objective and just position and play a positive role in addressing the pandemic globally”.

3. Reopening with Hong Kong - Another step in the return to normalcy, even if limited to just 50,000 people per day.

4. Resource security - Xinhua spoke with Minister of Natural Resources Wang Guanghua about “priority tasks for the country to further enhance resource utilization efficiency and unleash development vitality.” He spoke about the need to protect farmland, and work towards the carbon peaking and neutrality goals, but his comments on ensuring the security of domestic mineral resources has gotten the most attention, and es…