Noting that "good neighbors are more precious than gold," Chinese President Xi Jinping Wednesday said that China is willing to continue to strengthen cooperation with the Republic of Korea (ROK) on COVID-19 containment as well as drug and vaccine research.

Xi made the remarks in a telephone conversation with ROK President Moon Jae-in. The two leaders talked about their countries' respective responses to COVID-19 and their effective bilateral cooperation with regard to the pandemic. 

Sharing weal and woe and helping each other, both China and the ROK have managed to prevent and control the spread of COVID-19 through painstaking efforts, Xi said.

He added the two sides took the lead in establishing a joint prevention and control cooperation mechanism, setting a record of "zero imported case" from each other.  

Earlier this month, the two sides established a fast-track system which allows simplified entry for Koreans traveling to China on business. President Xi said the system ensures smooth operation of the regional supply chain.

Cooperation between China and the ROK against the COVID-19 pandemic is effective, and contributed useful experience and set a good example of cooperation for the global fight against the coronavirus disease, Xi added. 

He also said China is willing to continuously promote bilateral and international cooperation against the virus under the multilateral framework of the United Nations, the G20 and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, China, Japan and the ROK (ASEAN Plus Three). 

Noting that the two countries have more and more common interests in achieving common development and prosperity, maintaining regional peace and stability, and safeguarding multilateralism and free trade, the Chinese president said there is a lot of room for the two sides to expand practical cooperation in various fields to better benefit the two peoples.

"I attach great importance to the development of China-ROK relations and would like to strengthen strategic communication with you to lead China-ROK relations to a higher level," Xi told Moon. 

The ROK president highly appreciated China's efforts in dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic and wished the upcoming Two Sessions in China a complete success. 

Noting that the two countries share similar ideas and measures in fighting the pandemic, Moon said the ROK looks forward to maintaining close communication with China and playing a positive role in promoting international cooperation to strengthen solidarity and mutual trust and overcoming the pandemic.