International cooperation is vitally important in the fight against the common enemy COVID-19, said Chinese Premier Li Keqiang on Thursday at a press conference after the conclusion of the Third Session of the 13th National People's Congress, China's top legislature. 

Li said that China and many other countries have advocated tracing the origin of the novel coronavirus because scientific tracing can assist in better preventing and controlling the pandemic, and ensuring good health of people around the world.

"(COVID-19) is a new infectious disease and what we don't know is greater than what we know," Li said. 

He stressed that the most powerful weapons against COVID-19 are vaccines, effective drugs and detection reagents, and China will make its R&Ds public goods, in order to help the world defeat the virus.

China has effectively brought the epidemic under control currently through arduous efforts. It has actively participated in international cooperation and released relevant information to the international community in an open, transparent, responsible and timely manner.

However, Li warned that the epidemic is still spreading all over the world, and it is not yet over in China, as scientists have stressed that vigilance should be maintained to prevent a rebound.

"China will continue to adhere to the principle of seeking truth from facts and being open and transparent," said Li. "Once cases are detected, we will resolutely control them with scientific containment measures. No concealment is allowed."

So far, the international community has been facing dual challenges, which is controlling the epidemic and at the same time restoring economic and social development to a normal order, Li pointed out.

He highlighted that international cooperation is particularly important at this time. "Both the battle against the pandemic and economic development require us to work together in a bid to enable mankind to surmount the huge impact brought by the pandemic."