Xi stresses need for unity in face of contagion

President Xi Jinping has called on countries around the world to replace their differences with solidarity, eliminate prejudice and forge a powerful synergy to combat the COVID-19 pandemic and jointly safeguard the common home of mankind.

Xi made the remarks during a phone conversation with Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev on Thursday night. He also spoke over the phone with Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa.

During the conversation with Mirziyoyev, Xi said solidarity and cooperation is the most powerful weapon in the fight against the pandemic, which concerns the health and well-being of the entire human race and the development and prosperity of the world.

The pandemic has again proved that the building of a community with a shared future for mankind is the only right way forward, he said.

Xi underscored that it has always been the fine tradition of China-Uzbekistan relations to stand together and help each other, and China will continue to support epidemic containment efforts in the Central Asian country.

The two sides should continue to offer each other firm support, transform challenges into opportunities, and move forward with bilateral cooperation in a flexible manner while working together to fight the pandemic, he said.

Mirziyoyev said the Chinese government, under Xi's wise leadership, has adopted firm, decisive and efficient measures to bring the pandemic under control within a short period of time, during which the Chinese people have displayed an outstanding level of unity, cooperation and courage.

China is a loyal friend of Uzbekistan, and the country stands ready to work with China to jointly work toward a community with a shared future for mankind, he added.

While talking with his Portuguese counterpart, Xi again underlined the need for different countries to remain united and work together to overcome various difficulties and challenges that are met once in a century.

China firmly supports the efforts made by Portugal to fight the pandemic and is willing to offer help within its capabilities, he said.

The two sides should deepen cooperation in various areas after the pandemic, move forward with the joint building of the Belt and Road and explore third-party cooperation in areas including public health, Xi added.

The Portuguese president said the pandemic is the common enemy of humankind and the international community must adhere to multilateralism and work together to fight it.