Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi said that the international community should boost confidence and tackle the COVID-19 pandemic in a coordinated manner.

In a phone call with Foreign Policy Adviser to the President of France Emmanuel Bonne on Monday, Wang called for China and France to proceed in further uniting the international community in addressing the pandemic, as heads of both countries advocated at Thursday's G20 Extraordinary Virtual Leaders' Summit on COVID-19.

The foreign minister said that China, as a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), remains positive and open for discussion toward any proposal that could facilitate a global response to the health crisis.

Wang stressed the idea of the world as a community with a shared future of mankind, which was exemplified once again while combating the virus, he said.

Thus, the foreign minister said, countries should embrace multilateralism in resolving global challenges and abandon unilateralism and egoism, which are also not welcomed anywhere.

Bonne highly appreciated Wang's comments and said that France shared similar views, especially in that the international community should cooperate and together tide over the difficulties.

Bonne said that France is willing to cooperate with China in areas of what has been achieved in the G20 meeting to enhance their mutual relationship. He also thanked China for all the help so far and hopes that China can continue to assist France in procurement of anti-epidemic equipment.

Wang said China has not stopped equipment exports despite a huge domestic demand because it believes that helping other countries in fighting the pandemic is helping itself.

The minister reiterated China's willingness to support other countries on phone calls with his counterparts in Luxembourg and Portugal on the same day.

Wang told Jean Asselborn, foreign minister of Luxembourg, and Augusto Santos Silva, foreign minister of Portugal, that China sympathizes with Europe over the severe outbreak.

Wang said that China will continue to assist these two European countries in procurement and export of anti-epidemic equipment as well as creating convenience for experts from both sides to share experience of virus containment through video conferences.

Meanwhile, Wang stressed that he hopes the two countries could protect the health, safety and legitimate rights of Chinese citizens, including international students, and provide necessary medical assistance.

Silva said that Portugal will do its best to safeguard Chinese citizens in the country and deepen relationship with China in jointly fighting COVID-19. The Luxembourg foreign minister also echoed China's call for more international cooperation to address the pandemic.