国内英语新闻:China to offer Cyprus all possible help to combat COVID-19: FM

BEIJING, April 18 (Xinhua) -- China will provide all possible help within its capacity to Cyprus in the COVID-19 fight, Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi said Friday in a phone conversation with Cypriot Foreign Minister Nikos Christodoulides.

Noting that the China-Cyprus relationship has a solid political foundation, Wang said both countries have always been trusting and supporting each other.

When China was sparing no effort to fight the COVID-19 outbreak at the beginning of this year, Cyprus stood together with China, Wang said, adding that China will never stand idly by when a friend is facing difficulties.

Although still facing prevention and control pressure to guard against both imported infections and domestic rebounds, China is willing to overcome difficulties to proactively provide as much help as possible for Cyprus, share experience in epidemic prevention and control without reservation, and assist Cyprus in purchasing medical resources from China, Wang said.

He said that the Chinese side stands ready to endeavor to ensure the health and safety of Cypriot diplomatic personnel and nationals in China, and expressed his belief that the Cypriot side would also protect the health, safety as well as legitimate rights and interests of Chinese nationals and students in Cyprus.

Wang pointed out that encountering the challenges posed by COVID-19, China, engaged in domestic prevention and control of the disease, extends a helping hand to other countries in need.

China's action is not only out of its sense of responsibility as a major country, but also out of the spirit of international humanitarianism, implementing the concept put forward by Chinese President Xi Jinping of building a community with a shared future for mankind, he added.

Some words and deeds that distort the truth and smear China are narrow-minded, and will not be supported by the international community, he noted.

For his part, Christodoulides said that China has given firm support to Cyprus at the difficult moment in its fight against COVID-19, which the Cypriot side highly appreciates and always bears in mind.

China has successfully controlled the domestic spread of COVID-19, setting an example for the world in fighting against the pandemic, he said.

In the anti-virus fight, China has taken a highly responsible attitude towards humanity, stood on the side of morality, proactively provided help to other countries, and sent medical experts to share experience in prevention and control, thus contributing to the international anti-epidemic cooperation, he said.

The Cypriot side, actively committed to expanding Cyprus-China friendship, is ready to protect the health and safety of Chinese citizens in Cyprus, Christodoulides said.