The new British Ambassador to China Caroline Wilson said the two countries should join hands to defeat the COVID-19 pandemic, in a recent interview with China Media Group (CMG).

Speaking in Chinese, Wilson described the pandemic as a "global challenge," adding that it will not be over even if there is only one remaining country with COVID-19 cases. She called for international cooperation to tackle the challenge.

Wilson, who took office as the UK's envoy to Beijing in September, said she had undergone a 14-day quarantine after her arrival in China. She believed the measure was "very important" because everyone needs to make some sacrifices to contain the virus.

As the world strives for economic recovery, the diplomat suggested that Britain and China could deepen cooperation on environmental protection to facilitate a "sustainable recovery."

She noted that next year the UK would host the 26th UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26) and China will host the 15th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP15) in Kunming, calling on the two sides to jointly promote a "sustainable, inclusive recovery" of the world economy.