Chinese Premier Li Keqiang has called for enhanced prevention measures to avoid cross-border transmission and imported cases of COVID-19 as the country's fight against the outbreak shows a sound trend while the epidemic spreads rapidly overseas.

Li, also the leader of the central leading group of China's COVID-19 response, made the remarks when chairing a group meeting on Monday.

He instructed ports and customs to strengthen their prevention measures and to implement testing, treatment and quarantine to overseas visitors that are confirmed, suspected or are close contacts of confirmed cases in order to ensure safe personnel exchanges.

Noting the COVID-19 is a common challenge for the international community, the premier vowed to enhance international cooperation. For foreigners currently living in China, Li urged government at all levels to take humanistic care by offering necessary support and assistance to them.

China's Foreign Ministry officially established an emergency response center on Sunday to prevent cases of COVID-19 coming from outside its borders, the ministry said in a statement on Monday.

The center will operate around-the-clock, coordinate with domestic departments and local governments, and guide overseas embassies and consulates, read the statement.

It will strengthen the anti-epidemic protection capacity of overseas compatriots, and effectively protect the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese citizens, added the statement.

Earlier, Beijing also announced that it will include its foreign residents in its community health management system as imported cases rise in the capital.

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China sets up emergency response center to curb COVID-19 cases from abroad

Speaking of the domestic situation, Li pointed out the situation remains complicated and called for precise and classified prevention to avoid a rebound of the disease.

He stressed further efforts to realize an orderly resumption of work and production and keep a balance between epidemic prevention and national economic and social development.

Authorities in China reported the fewest number of new cases of COVID-19 since infections started being tracked in January as all provinces on the Chinese mainland, except for Hubei, have begun to see a pause in local transmissions.

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The outbreak outside of China continues to spread rapidly. As of Sunday, the number of COVID-19 infected countries topped 100 with a total of 25,208 confirmed cases and over 700 deaths.

The sense of crisis has further deepened in countries and regions as the total number of cases exceed 105,000 globally.