China's Deputy Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu said Thursday that China will offer medical supplies to countries in urgent need to contain the novel coronavirus disease COVID-19, and it is considering providing funds to the World Health Organization (WHO) to help control the worldwide spread of the virus.
China has reported a downward trend of the number of the coronavirus infections, while other countries now have a major battle on their hands.
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"We are preparing necessary assistance to countries in urgent need, including the Republic of Korea, Iraq, Cambodia, Myanmar, and Sri Lanka. We are also considering answering WHO's call for funding support," Ma told reporters at a press conference on international cooperation in response to the COVID-19 in Beijing.
"We relied primarily on our own efforts to respond to the outbreak, and we are grateful to the international community for its sincere assistance. We always said that the outbreak would be temporary, but friendship and cooperation are long-lasting. The sympathy and support of the international community will live on in Chinese people's hearts and minds," he said.
International aid poured in China from around the world since the outbreak. Medical supplies were flown in daily from outreach groups and foreign governments alike. So far, 62 countries and seven international communities have donated medical supplies and protective gear to China, according to China's foreign ministry.
Officials say the nation's discovery of the genetic sequence, which it shared with the world at an early stage of the outbreak, will help countries like Italy and Iran in their fight against the novel coronavirus.
China will continue to be open and transparent in sharing information and experiences.
"China is working actively with other countries in epidemic control, and will continue to cooperate in areas including diagnostics, therapeutics, drugs and vaccine development. We will never forget the help given by international communities, and we will provide help to countries in need to the best of our ability," said Ma.
Ma said the faith of countries in fighting the virus is intertwined. "This war against COVID-19 needs international cooperation, which is in full force around the clock, and around the world," he said.