Viruses know no national boundaries or races, and only by working together can mankind win the battle against them, Chinese President Xi Jinping said in a phone conversation with British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Monday night.

Both leaders voiced support for the role of the World Health Organization (WHO) in the global fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

China is ready to provide support and help for Britain, said President Xi, adding that he is confident that Britain will surely prevail over the epidemic under Johnson's leadership.

Reiterating that the Chinese government attaches great importance to protecting the health and safety of Chinese citizens overseas, Xi expressed his hope that Britain will take concrete and effective measures in safeguarding the health, safety and legitimate rights of Chinese nationals on its soil, particularly those studying in Britain.

He called on all nations to enhance cooperation within the frameworks of the United Nations and the Group of 20 (G20) and the sharing of information and experience, boost collaboration in scientific research, support the WHO in playing its due role, and improve global health governance.

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For his part, Johnson said he congratulates the Chinese government and people on the remarkable achievements they have made in epidemic prevention and control with strenuous efforts and enormous sacrifices. 

At present, the COVID-19 situation in Britain is grave, he said, adding that Britain has been studying and learning from China's useful experience and taking scientific and effective prevention and control measures. 

He said the British side thanks China for its valuable support and help, and will do its best to take care of the health and safety of Chinese nationals in Britain, especially the students. 

The prime minister said he fully agrees with Xi that no country can wall itself off from the epidemic and all countries should strengthen cooperation. Britain, he added, supports the WHO in playing an important role, and hopes that all parties will deepen relevant cooperation within the G20 and other multilateral frameworks.

China, France vow to promote multilateral cooperation

In a phone conversation with his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron, President Xi said China stands ready to work with France for closer cooperation within multilateral frameworks, joint control of COVID-19 and better global health governance.

Recalling that at a critical moment in the fight against the coronavirus disease, he and Macron have had three phone calls since January, Xi said that has demonstrated the high level of both the mutual trust between the two presidents and the China-France relationship.

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Both China and France shoulder the arduous responsibility of safeguarding international and regional public health security, Xi stressed, suggesting that they carry out sincere cooperation to promote joint research programs, strengthen cooperation in frontier health and quarantine inspection, support the work of the WHO, help African countries enhance epidemic prevention and control, and strive to build a community of common health.

In response, Macron said he highly appreciates the fact that the Chinese government and people, with great courage and decisive measures, have effectively contained the disease in a short period of time.

The French side, he added, is sincerely grateful for China's valuable support and help, and is willing to make concerted efforts with China to boost bilateral health cooperation and encourage all relevant parties to promote cooperation within such frameworks as the G20 and the WHO, so as to beat the pandemic and cope with its impact on the world economy.

The two heads of state also agreed to maintain close communication and promote bilateral exchanges and cooperation in various fields, so as to ensure the continuous development of China-France relations at a high level, and maintain the stability of China-France as well as China-Europe industrial chains and supply chains.

China backs Egypt's fight against COVID-19 

President Xi held a telephone conversation with his Egyptian counterpart Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi on the same day, saying that China supports Egypt's epidemic prevention and control efforts and stands ready to jointly fight the COVID-19. 

Noting that the disease is erupting in different places around the world, Xi reaffirmed China's stance to work with other countries to step up international cooperation in epidemic prevention and control, jointly address common threats and challenges, and safeguard global public health security based on the notion of a community with a shared future for mankind. 

After COVID-19 broke out in China, the Egyptian side expressed its support for China's fight against the epidemic, demonstrating the profound friendship between the two countries that always stand together through thick and thin, as well as the high level of their comprehensive strategic partnership, said Xi. 

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China attaches great importance to the development of its relations with Egypt, and is willing to join hands with the Egyptian side to strengthen their practical cooperation in various fields, and build their relationship into a pilot model of a China-Arab as well as a China-Africa community with a shared future. 

For his part, Sisi noted that China's fight against COVID-19 has achieved positive progress, which has once again demonstrated the strength of Xi's wise leadership and the solidarity of the great Chinese people.

Egypt, he said, is grateful for China's support and help, and is confident that through the joint fight against the disease, the friendship between the two countries will be further cemented.

Stressing that Egypt and China are special and friendly partners, Sisi said he attaches great importance to the bilateral ties and stands ready to work with China to boost their practical cooperation of mutual benefit in various fields and enhance communication and coordination in international affairs.

(With input from Xinhua)