State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi spoke with Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry on the phone on 7 February.

Shoukry expressed Egypt's firm support for China's fight against the novel coronavirus outbreak and readiness to provide all possible help to China. He conveyed full confidence in China's capability to win a full victory against the epidemic, and reaffirmed African countries' unfailing solidarity with China in this trying time.

Wang said that China and Africa are good friends and good brothers enjoying mutual trust and mutual support. It was China who first rushed to the aid of African countries during the Ebola outbreak, which left a new chapter in China-Africa friendship and cooperation. Likewise, African countries' full understanding and support for China's fight against the current epidemic will again reinforce the friendship between the two sides. With the strong Party leadership, with our rich experience gained from fighting SARS, with our great nationwide mobilization capacity, and with solidarity and support from the international community, China has every confidence to prevail over the epidemic and maintain its development trajectory.

Wang emphasized that China's epidemic control efforts are not only protecting the safety and health of its own people but also contributing to international public health. WHO hails China's measures as setting a new standard for global outbreak response and says it does not recommend international travel or trade restrictions. China will continue to communicate and coordinate with Egypt to maintain the exchanges and cooperation between the two countries.