Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Sunday that the COVID-19 pandemic remains the biggest external challenge to China's goal of building a "moderately prosperous society in all aspects."

He said China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) must meet new challenges and work with countries around the world to reduce the pandemic's impact on people's health and safety as well as support socioeconomic development.

Wang said MOFA has helped at least two poverty-stricken counties in southwest China's Yunnan Province out of poverty in an effort that has lasted over the past two decades.

He also said MOFA will help coordinate global communications to tell the stories of the country's poverty alleviation efforts.