Beijing, 15 October 2022 (dpa/MIA) - A relaxation of China's zero-Covid strategy is not likely during the National People's Congress of the country's communist party, set to start on Sunday, according to a government spokesperson. Party spokesperson Sun Yeli defended the strict measures on Saturday, a day before the week-long meeting of almost 2,300 delegates set to open in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. Sun noted that China has a large population and many old people. The development is regionally unbalanced. He also noted a lack of medical resources. The "dynamic zero-Covid policy" had kept the infection and death rate low and economic development stable, he added. "All things considered, China's Covid response measures are most cost-effective and have worked the best for our country," the spokesperson explained further. However, he promised better coordination between preventive measures and economic and social development. As the rest of the world tries to live with the virus, China is sticking to its zero-tolerance goal. Tens of millions of Chinese are currently fully or partially affected by lockdowns. According to the spokesperson, the party congress, which only takes place every five years, runs through October 22. The meeting is due to set the course for a historic third term in office for head of state and party leader Xi Jinping and anchor his ideology more deeply in the party constitution.