President Xi Jinping spoke with President Sebastián Piñera of Chile on the phone on 28 February.

President Xi Jinping noted that the COVID-19 outbreak is a major public health emergency for China, one that is fastest spreading, most widely affecting and most difficult to contain since the founding of the People's Republic in 1949. I have personally taken charge of the nationwide response, and the whole country is waging a united battle against the outbreak. The most comprehensive, rigorous and thorough measures have been taken. Thanks to these extraordinary efforts, the situation is increasingly trending in a positive direction. We are confident that we can and we will end the outbreak in China.

Xi stressed that China's response is guided by the recognition that mankind is a community of shared destiny. To limit the further spread of the virus, the Chinese side has acted in an open, transparent and responsible manner in sharing timely information with WHO and the global community, actively responding to various concerns, and seeking cooperation with the rest of the world. Our efforts are recognized by WHO and the international community. We thank the government and people of Chile, and many other countries and governments, for reaching out and rendering tremendous support to the Chinese people.

President Xi pointed out that the Chinese nation, who had seen many trials and tribulations, has never been crushed. The outbreak's impact on the Chinese economy will be short-lived and generally manageable. The fundamentals of the economy will remain strong in the long run. Even as we make solid, unremitting efforts to control the outbreak, we are adopting a range of policies to steadily restore normal production and life and strive to achieve this year's targets for economic and social development.

President Piñera extended, on behalf of the government and people of Chile, sincere sympathies to the Chinese people over the COVID-19 outbreak, and expressed firm support for their united fight against it. He said that under the strong leadership of the CPC and the Chinese government, China's response is proving effective and bringing the outbreak under control. China is a great country that has overcome many trials and tribulations. He expressed confidence that under the able leadership of President Xi, China will defeat the outbreak at an early date. Chile will step up cooperation with China to jointly tackle the challenges brought by communicable diseases and safeguard global public health security.

(The full text is available at: http://www.xinhuanet.com/ politics/leaders/2020-02/29/c_1125641370.htm.)