BEIJING - Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Monday held a phone call with British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab on COVID-19 caused by a novel coronavirus.

Commending the Chinese side's comprehensive and effective measures to prevent, control the coronavirus outbreak and stop the disease from further spreading, Raab thanked the Chinese side for offering assistance and convenience to British citizens in China.

Raab said Britain looks forward to strengthening cooperation with China in the fight against the epidemic and further discussing with China on establishing a global health partnership.

Noting that the epidemic at present has seen outbreaks and spread in many places around the world, Wang said that enhancing international cooperation to jointly combat the epidemic is now the highest priority

Noting that the epidemic at present has seen outbreaks and spread in many places around the world, Wang said enhancing international cooperation to jointly combat the epidemic is now the highest priority.

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China is ready to work with the British side to implement the consensuses reached by the two leaders on jointly building a "golden era" of bilateral ties, said Wang.

The two countries can further strengthen their cooperation on epidemic prevention and control, and explore the establishment of a global health partnership, which can add to the connotation of the China-Britain comprehensive strategic partnership and push for new development of the "golden era" of bilateral ties, Wang said.

Wang speaks with Iraqi counterpart

In a separate phone call with Iraqi Foreign Minister Mohammed al-Hakim on Monday, Wang said that after the coronavirus epidemic appeared in Iraq, the Chinese government has commissioned the Red Cross Society of China to form a medical team to aid Iraq, with a belief that the team can help Iraq fight against the epidemic and the Iraqi people would defeat the epidemic soon.

READ MORE: Team arrives in Iraq to aid fight against virus spread

China will continue to do all within its reach to offer help and support to Iraq, Wang added.

China would like to further deepen the cooperation with Iraq over the Belt and Road Initiative, help Iraq to rebuild its economy and promote the strategic partnership between the two countries for new development, Wang said.

China will continue to do all within its reach to offer help and support to Iraq, Wang told his Iraqi counterpart

Noting that Chinese health experts have arrived at Baghdad with medical supplies and equipment, providing selfless help to Iraq, al-Hakim thanked China for its strong support and said he believed that with China's help, Iraq would surely win the fight against COVID-19 at an early date.

Iraq is willing to strengthen coordination and cooperation with China on global and regional affairs, he added.

Wang speaks with Nepali counterpart

Separately, Wang also held a phone conversation with Nepali Foreign Minister Pradeep Kumar Gyawali on Monday over the COVID-19 battle and bilateral ties.

Gyawali said the Nepali side is glad to see the visible progress China made under the leadership of President Xi Jinping in the fight against the coronavirus.

Gyawali said the Nepali side is glad to see the visible progress China made under the leadership of President Xi in the fight against the coronavirus

Nepal, as China's friendly neighbor, highly appreciates and fully supports the Chinese government's and people's efforts in the COVID-19 battle, firmly believes China's early success over the epidemic, and will continue to stand firmly by China's side, the minister said.

The Nepal government is ready to work with China to implement the achievements gained during President Xi's visit to Nepal, Gyawali added.

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For his part, Wang noted that President Xi's historical visit to Nepal last year has achieved fruitful results.

In this year, which marks the 65th anniversary of diplomatic ties between China and Nepal, the two sides should further implement the important consensuses reached by the two leaders, so as to push forward the bilateral ties and their practical cooperation in all fields to continuous new development, Wang said.

Wang noted that under the command of President Xi, the Chinese people have pulled together and made critical headway in their battle against the epidemic.