BEIJING: Beijing shrugged off IMF warnings about the economic impact of its aggressive anti-Covid policy, saying on Wednesday that China has achieved “significant results” and is a key driver of global growth.

The International Monetary Fund lowered its growth outlook for China and the rest of the world on Tuesday and said Beijing’s zero-Covid policy — which has seen entire cities locked down over a handful of cases — has spurred a slowdown in the world’s second-largest economy.

It might be time for Beijing to “recalibrate” its stance in order to ease pressure on global supply chains and economic growth, the fund’s newly-installed first deputy managing director Gita Gopinath told AFP.

But Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said the country’s “status as an important engine of global economic growth has not changed,” adding that Beijing has achieved “significant results” in its economic rebound and boosting global economic recovery.

“China has always adopted scientific, comprehensive and effective prevention and control measures,” he told reporters.

The IMF cut 0.8 points off China’s expected growth this year, forecasting it at 4.8 percent in the quarterly update to its World Economic Outlook. Global growth was reduced by half a point from the Fund’s October estimate.