Jakarta (ANTARA) - Chinese President Xi Jinping, during a telephonic conversation with his Indonesian counterpart President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) on Thursday (April 2), pledged to assist Indonesia in containing the COVID-19 epidemic.

Xi expressed concern over the spread of the novel coronavirus in the rest of the world, including Indonesia.

On behalf of the Chinese government and people, Xi sympathized with the Indonesian people.

The Chinese people have been through the most critical phase only after putting up a tough fight, Xi remarked, adding that China had identified the difficulties faced by Indonesia and offered its assistance to help handle them.

Xi strongly believed that Indonesia, under the leadership of President Jokowi, will be able to win the battle against the deadly virus outbreak.

To face the COVID-19 pandemic, China and Indonesia have helped one another as a manifestation of their deep friendship, according to the secretary general of the Communist Party of China (CPC).

In observance of seven decades of diplomatic ties between China and Indonesia, Xi echoed China's intent to continue to forge close cooperation with Indonesia in realizing the Belt and Road Initiative and deepening strategic partnership between both nations.

Xi further drew attention to the criticality of strong synergy among members of the international community to overcome the epidemic that has emerged as an enemy to mankind.

The chief of China's Central Military Commission (CMC) also called on Indonesia to work more closely with China to encourage the Group of Twenty (G20) and the international community to play their role in overcoming the global economic crisis.

In the meantime, Jokowi affirmed that under Xi’s leadership, the Chinese people had been through the crucial phase in the fight against the outbreak, and to this end, the world can take a cue from China.

Jokowi expressed gratitude to China for its assistance and support extended to Indonesia to contain the outbreak.

Chinese assistance is immensely important for Indonesia, some Chinese official media stated while quoting the statement by the Indonesian president.

Xi had earlier also phoned Jokowi on February 11, 2020, when the Chinese death toll from the COVID-19 outbreak had reached 1,112.

During the telephonic conversation, Xi expressed gratitude to Indonesia for the medical assistance extended to China.

Translator: M. Irfan Ilmie/Suharto
Editor: Yuni Arisandy Sinaga
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