China willing to jointly tackle coronavirus with int'l community including US

BEIJING, March 18 (Xinhua) -- China is ready to work with the international community including the United States to jointly tackle the challenge of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19), Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said Wednesday.

"Because the infectious disease knows no border, countries should join hands to grapple with it and safeguard the global public health security," Geng told a press briefing.

He made the comment in response to media reports that Utah State's legislature and governor Gary Herbert passed a concurrent resolution last week, supporting the Chinese people and their efforts to contain the COVID-19 epidemic.

Geng said the move demonstrated the goodwill of the people in Utah State to the Chinese people.

He said a number of U.S. states and cities such as California, Indiana, Nebraska, Massachusetts, Maryland, Utah, Connecticut, Oklahoma, Georgia and Hawaii, as well as New York City, Boston and Los Angeles, have expressed their sympathy and support to Chinese provinces and cities since the COVID-19 outbreak.

China appreciates the assistance provided by U.S. enterprises, organizations and individuals, Geng said, adding that due to the development of the coronavirus epidemic in the United States, Chinese institutions and organizations also extended a helping hand.

Facing the epidemic, the international community should cooperate to tackle challenges and safeguard the interests and welfare of all, he said.