US President Donald Trump speaks to the media on the coronavirus, in the James Brady Press Briefing Room of the White House in Washington, April 1, 2020. (ALEX BRANDON / AP)

WASHINGTON - US President Donald Trump on Wednesday said he welcomed China's efforts to provide personal protective equipment to countries and regions combating COVID-19.

If China can help them, I'm all for it.

Donald Trump, US president

Asked to comment on claims that China, by shipping aid overseas, "is taking on a global leadership role" in the battle against COVID-19, Trump said he viewed that "as a positive" if China is helping other countries.

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"We have 151 countries right now that are under siege by the virus," the president said during a briefing by the White House Coronavirus Task Force on the US' response to the virus outbreak, adding that some of the countries "aren't highly sophisticated" in tackling the crisis.

"If China can help them, I'm all for it," Trump said. "I would love China and other countries if they have additional supplies, medical supplies, to give to other countries."

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