On February 24th, 2020, Vice Foreign Minister Zheng Zeguang had phone calls respectively with Brazilian Ambassador to China Paulo Estivallet, Chilean Ambassador to China Luis Schmidt, Mexican Ambassador to China Jose Bernal, Colombian Ambassador to China Luis Monsalve Hoyos, Trinidad and Tobago’s Ambassador to China Stephen Seedansingh and Costa Rican Ambassador to China Rodrigo Delgado Soto, briefing them on the Chinese side’s efforts in combating the novel coronavirus disease and exchanging views on bilateral relations.

Zheng Zeguang said the Chinese side is grateful for their countries who have expressed condolence and support to China in many ways since the outbreak of NCP.   

Zheng Zeguang said, under the personal command and deployment of President Xi Jinping, the Chinese people have united as one and taken the most comprehensive, rigorous and thorough measures. Thanks to all arduous efforts, the positive momentum of control and prevention is expanding. We are confident and capable of winning the battle against the epidemic. The Chinese side will continue to uphold the vision of a community with a shared future for mankind, strengthen communication with the World Health Organization and all countries, and carry out prevention and control cooperation to jointly safeguard international public health security. 

Zheng Zeguang pointed out, the outbreak’s impact on the Chinese economy will be short-lived and generally manageable. The fundamentals sustaining China’s economy will remain unchanged in the long run. While we make unremitting efforts to control the outbreak, we are also adopting a range of strong policies to strive to achieve this year’s targets for economic and social development. The Chinese side is willing to work with Latin American and Caribbean states to deepen friendly cooperation in various areas and elevate bilateral relations to new highs. 

The ambassadors from seven countries thanked Zheng Zeguang for the briefing, spoke positively of China’s effective efforts in prevention and control of the epidemic, and thanked the Chinese side for efficiently protecting the health and safety of various nationals in China. They are optimistic about the prospects of China’s economy, and are willing to enhance cooperation between their countries and China in epidemic control and other areas. 

Since the onset of the epidemic contagion, Brazil has donated a large number of medical masks. Trinidad and Tobago has donated two batches of protective supplies. Costa Rica and several other Latin American and Caribbean states have also donated medical supplies, such as masks and gloves.