The virus is mankind's common enemy and the international community needs to work jointly, Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Friday, reiterating China's determination to fight on the front line against the COVID-19 epidemic.

Wang made the remarks on a phone call with Italian Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio and Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, respectively.

Wang introduced the achievements China has made in containing the disease and cited the comments of WHO officials saying that the comprehensive preventative measures not only avoid the pandemic of COVID-19 worldwide but also provide valuable experiences for the international community.

Noting the outbreak in Italy and Iran, the Chinese foreign minister pledged that China will do whatever it can to provide the necessary assistance to the two countries in fighting the novel coronavirus as it continues to spread overseas.

China delivered 5,000 test kits and 250,000 masks to Iran earlier this week. Wang said such assistance will continue and China is willing to cooperate on COVID-19 prevention with the international community.

Zarif was the first foreign minister that sent sympathies to the Chinese people on the outbreak, Wang said, showing the sincere friendship between the two countries. He assured his Iranian counterpart that China is willing to go through these hard times with the Iranian people and is ready to cooperate on epidemic prevention and medical treatment with Iran.

When talking to his Italian counterpart, Wang said that China would take the opportunity to enhance exchanges on telemedicine, drugs and vaccine development under the Belt and Road Initiative.

The two ministers spoke highly of China's prevention and control work, saying that they are ready to enhance communication and cooperation with China in the fight against the COVID-19.

As of February 28, there are more than 650 confirmed cases in Italy and more than 380 in Iran.

(Cover: Children draw pictures to extend their wishes to China's fight against the COVID-19, Minsk, Belarus, February 27, 2020. /Xinhua)