Noting that the current fight against the novel coronavirus epidemic remains grave and complex, President Xi Jinping has ordered the Chinese military to keep its mission firmly in mind and shoulder the responsibility to make a contribution to winning the battle. 

Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remarks in a recent instruction to the military on the prevention and control of the outbreak of pneumonia caused by the novel coronavirus.

As the Chinese armed forces have been mobilized to help contain the coronavirus outbreak, Xi required the military to promote its leadership, enhance coordination between the locality and the military, and strengthen self-protection while supporting the country's efforts to contain the spread of the coronavirus.

Xi also demanded all-out efforts in epidemic prevention and control work, and the speeding up of scientific research.

China is racing against time to build Huoshenshan Hospital, a makeshift hospital for treating patients infected with the novel coronavirus in Wuhan. The Chinese military will manage the hospital which will be ready for use on February 3.

Moreover, the first batch of emergency medical supplies provided by the Chinese military arrived Sunday at Wuhan's Hankou railway station. Three teams of military staff totaling 450, who flew to Wuhan on Friday night, immediately started work in three designated hospitals at the center of the novel coronavirus outbreak.