Malaysia, China affirm commitment to jointly combat Covid-19

PUTRAJAYA: Malaysia and China are committed to strengthening cooperation and mounting a concerted effort to overcome the ongoing Covid-19 coronavirus outbreak which has so far killed nearly 1,500 people in the republic.

The mutual understanding and close cooperation between the two nations in battling the epidemic was relayed and manifested through a telephone conversation between Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and Chinese president Xi Jinping.

In a statement, the Foreign Ministry said that in the conversation which took place yesterday afternoon, Xi pledged that the Chinese government will take care of Malaysians currently in China and treat them like its own citizens.

“The two leaders spoke of mutual understanding and close cooperation to contain and overcome the epidemic, as well as to minimise its impact.

In a telephone conversation, Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad (left) and China’s president Xi Jinping agreed to remain in close contact with each other in responding to the Covid-19 outbreak.- Bernama/File pic

“The Honourable Prime Minister conveyed Malaysia’s solidarity and steadfast support for China, and expressed confidence in every effort being undertaken by His Excellency President Xi and his government in this regard.

“His Excellency President Xi appreciates Malaysia’s friendship and assistance, and assured that China has the strength to fight the Covid-19 outbreak, and will care for Malaysians and other people who are currently in China like its own citizens.

“The two leaders agreed on the necessity for concerted effort. The Honourable Prime Minister referred to the joint move to be undertaken by Asean and China to bring the situation under control,” the statement read.

Dr Mahathir and Xi also agreed to remain in close contact with each other in responding to the epidemic.

As of Thursday, Malaysia has detected 19 cases of Covid-19 in the country.

The Health Ministry, via its official Twitter account @KKMPutrajaya this morning, said the virus has claimed the lives of 1,488 people in China.

Quoting the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the National Crisis Preparedness and Response Centre, the ministry said one person in the Philippines has died of Covid-19.