Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday hailed the deep ties between China and Belarus and called for the building of a community of common health for mankind. 

President Xi made the remarks during a phone call with Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko. 

Xi said the two countries have been helping and supporting each other since the outbreak of COVID-19. China is willing to continue to share its experience with Belarus in the prevention and control of the pandemic and believes that Belarusian people will overcome the virus, he said. 

Xi thanked Belarus for providing assistance to Chinese citizens who study, work and live in Belarus, adding that China is willing to work with the international community, including Belarus, to strengthen cooperation and jointly build a community of common health for mankind. 

The epidemic has impact on the exchanges and pragmatic cooperation between the two countries, but China-Belarus relations have a solid foundation and great potential for cooperation, Xi said. 

The two sides should turn challenges into opportunities, deepen Belt and Road cooperation, accelerate the construction of the China-Belarus industrial park, promote mutually beneficial cooperation in various fields and push bilateral relations to a new level, he said. 

Lukashenko thanked China for its help in combating the pandemic and said the two countries are good friends and brothers. 

He said Belarus firmly opposes the politicization and labeling of the virus and will continue to stand by the Chinese side on issues involving China's core interests.  

Belarus is willing to work with China to make full use of China-Europe freight trains to expand bilateral trade and jointly build the Belt and Road to promote pragmatic cooperation in various fields, the president said.