On 20 February 20, State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with the press after attending the China-ASEAN Special Foreign Ministers' Meeting on Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19), together with Foreign Minister Saleumxay Kommasith of Laos, the host country of the meeting, and Foreign Secretary Teodoro Lopez Locsin of the Philippines, the country coordinator of ASEAN-China relations.
Wang Yi noted that the foreign ministers of China and 10 ASEAN countries held a successful special meeting on jointly fighting against the coronavirus disease. Foreign ministers reached important consensus that China and ASEAN should work together to deal with the epidemic and agreed that the two sides should help and support each other, strengthen confidence and overcome the current difficulties together. Some foreign ministers also suggested that a special meeting of China-ASEAN leaders be held at an appropriate time to further chart the course for improving public health cooperation and promoting health security of the people in the region.
During the meeting, clinical medical experts from China and ASEAN countries also held a video conference in parallel, focusing on exchanges of diagnosis and treatment plans and experience.
Since the outbreak of the epidemic, ASEAN countries have stood firmly side by side with China, providing valuable support for its fight against the epidemic. Governments of various ASEAN countries have expressed their sympathies and extended a helping hand to China. The ASEAN people made donations voluntarily. It once again demonstrates the fine tradition of China and ASEAN supporting and helping each other, and China will bear in mind this true friendship shown in adversity.
Wang Yi pointed out that under the leadership of President Xi Jinping, China has established a national prevention and control system. The Chinese people, united as one, have been racing against time to fight against the disease and achieved important positive results. The number of diagnosed patients have continued to decline and the number of cured patients have increased rapidly. Diagnosis and treatment plans have been improved, and the cure rate has significantly risen. Difficulties and hardships lead to true success. We believe that with the hard efforts of the Chinese people and the strong support of ASEAN countries and the international community, we will be able to triumph over the epidemic.
