Security conference to focus on outbreak

State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi will relate China's endeavors and progress in combating the novel coronavirus pneumonia epidemic at a security conference to be held in Germany this week, the Foreign Ministry announced on Wednesday.

Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said at a daily online news conference that Wang will travel to Germany to attend the 56th Munich Security Conference and co-chair the fifth round of China-Germany strategic dialogue on diplomacy and security with German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas from Thursday to Saturday.

Wang will make a speech at the conference in response to the world's high attention to the outbreak, and to advance international cooperation in fighting the virus, Geng said.

He said that epidemic prevention and control measures will be an important topic in talks between Wang and German leaders at the fifth round of bilateral dialogue to be held in Berlin.

Both sides will have discussions on the latest situation and cooperation in epidemic control and public health, he said.

President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Keqiang have spoken by telephone with German Chancellor Angela Merkel recently to exchange views on China's efforts to beat the virus.

According to Geng, Wang and Maas will also discuss China-Germany relations, China-European Union ties, joint efforts to uphold multilateralism and free trade, and major regional and international issues. Wang will also meet German leaders, he said.

Noting that there are important items on the political agenda in China-Germany and China-EU relations this year, Geng said China hopes the dialogue will help enhance strategic communication and mutual trust between the two sides.

On Thursday, health ministers of the 27 EU member states will hold a special meeting to coordinate action on the outbreak. Last month, the European Commission allocated 10 million euros ($11 million) for research on the virus.