Since the World Health Organization declared in March that the spread of COVID-19 had become a pandemic, more than 77 million cases have been recorded around the world and almost 1.7 million people have died.
The research center also announced that "the people (民 mín)" and "poverty alleviation (脱贫攻坚 tuōpín gōngjiān)" were their choices for the domestic Chinese Character and Word of the Year 2020. China met its goal of eliminating extreme poverty one month before the deadline and people's benefits are always put first in every aspect.
The Chinese Characters and Words of the Year are now in its 15th year.