China's top respiratory expert Zhong Nanshan has said it is of great importance for China to test all travelers entering the country amid the global spread of the coronavirus pandemic and take quarantine measures to prevent infections originating from abroad from spreading domestically.

Zhong made the remarks while answering media questions in the southern Chinese city of Guangzhou.

He pointed out that the number one task in China right now is epidemic containment. "It's the right decision for China to order testing and quarantine for all who enter the country," he said.