Vice-foreign minister briefs foreign diplomats on outbreak control

The Chinese government will fulfill its international obligations to address the legitimate concerns of the foreigners in the country in a timely manner and to protect their safety with a responsible attitude, Vice-Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu said on Monday.

Ma made the remarks when briefing diplomats from the foreign countries' embassies and missions to China about the nation's efforts to prevent and control the outbreak of the contagion at a meeting in Beijing.

Since the outbreak of the contagion, China has been actively developing international cooperation on disease prevention and control with a highly responsible attitude, Ma said, adding that the country informed the World Health Organization about the disease at the first possible moment and shared related technical information with it.

He stressed that given the serious and complicated situation, the Chinese government has taken strong measures that any other country can hardly take to deal with the disease, and will continue to resolutely make sure measures are effectively implemented.

Ma said that China has established an all-around epidemic prevention and control system to ensure its efforts to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus-related pneumonia will be advanced in an open, transparent, scientific and orderly manner.

The system centers around Wuhan, capital of Hubei province, which is the epicenter of the outbreak, as well as the province, and has been laid out from the Communist Party of China Central Committee to local governments at various levels, he added.

The nation has a strong resolve as well as full confidence and capability to win the battle against the contagious disease, Ma said.

Foreign diplomats attending the meeting highly commended China's briefing of the development of the epidemic, appreciated its efforts to take firm and decisive steps in disease prevention and control as well as the open, transparent and responsible attitude it shows in the process.

They said their countries stand ready to strengthen communication, coordination and cooperation with China to jointly uphold regional and international health security.