Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi addresses the 74th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, September 27, 2019. /Photo via fmprc.gov.cn
Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi stressed on Tuesday that cooperation and trust, rather than counteraction or suspicion, are most needed for countries in their fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.
During a phone call with his Uzbek counterpart Abdulaziz Kamilov, Wang said that China stands ready to continue strengthening cooperation with countries around the world, including Uzbekistan, and support the World Health Organization(WHO) in playing its due role.
China will help Uzbekistan within its capacity, including sending medical teams to share anti-epidemic experience and helping the Uzbek side purchase medical supplies in China, Wang added.
Chinese President Xi Jinping and Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev have built a deep friendship and mutual trust, which provide a solid foundation for bilateral relations, the Chinese foreign minister said.
People wearing protective face masks wait in line to enter the grocery store amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, April 9, 2020. /Reuters
China believes that the Uzbek side will defeat the COVID-19 outbreak under the leadership of President Mirziyoyev, Wang said, voicing hope that they will continue to guarantee the health and safety of Chinese nationals in Uzbekistan.
The pandemic will end and cooperation will continue, Wang said, noting that mutual trust and friendship between the two countries will be further strengthened in the joint battle against the coronavirus outbreak.
The two sides could take various and flexible measures to ensure the implementation of key cooperation projects and minimize the impact of the epidemic on cooperation, Wang said.
The two sides should also encourage enterprises to innovate cooperation modes and foster new forms of cooperation, Wang said, believing that China-Uzbekistan cooperation on the Belt and Road will surely achieve greater development.
Mankind is a community with a shared future, and solidarity and cooperation are the most powerful weapon against the pandemic, the Chinese foreign minister said.
China, Wang added, has always carried out international cooperation in an open and transparent manner, actively shared epidemic information with the World Health Organization (WHO) and the international community in a timely fashion, and extended a helping hand to countries in need.
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For his part, Kamilov said the Chinese people, who have demonstrated unprecedented unity and great perseverance in fighting the COVID-19 pandemic, can withstand any difficult test, adding that China's experience and achievements against COVID-19 have set an example for all countries around the globe.
Kamilov expressed his country's gratitude for China's selfless help, saying that Chinese medical experts have played an important role in Uzbekistan's fight against COVID-19.
Uzbekistan will do its utmost to guarantee the safety of Chinese citizens in the Central Asian country, he added.
He said the Uzbek side is willing to enhance mutual support and cooperation with the Chinese side in such multilateral arenas as the United Nations.
The two sides also exchanged views on the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, Afghanistan and other international and regional issues.
On the same day, Wang also had a phone conversation with his Tajikistan counterpart Sirodjiddin Muhriddin, expressing China's willingness to continue supporting the country in fighting the pandemic.
Wang said that the Chinese side is speeding up in the process of dispatching a joint working group to Tajikistan and arranging video conferences for medical professionals to share their experience with Tajikistan.
The Chinese foreign minister said that China appreciates Tajikistan's efforts in providing convenience to Chinese nationals in the country and hopes to strengthen cooperation in trade and help Tajikistan steadily develop its economy.
Muhriddin spoke highly of the enormous efforts that the Chinese government and citizens have made in fighting the pandemic and timely support to other countries including Tajikistan.
He said that Tajikistan will take effective measures to safeguard local Chinese citizens' health and safety. And Tajikistan is willing to strengthen cooperation and further advance the comprehensive strategic partnership with China.
(With input from Xinhua)