Friends from the media,

Good afternoon. Welcome to this press briefing.

First of all, please allow me to pay tribute to the medical workers and all those who are fighting on the frontline in China against the new coronavirus epidemic. They are making tremendous efforts in protecting people's life and health. They are the real heroes. Our hearts are with them.

I would also like to offer my sympathy to those who have been affected by the virus, wishing them a speedy recovery. My deep condolences go to those families who have lost their beloved ones and we are deeply saddened for the loss of Dr. Li Wenliang.

Nothing is more important than people's life and health. Since the outbreak, we have made the prevention and control of the epidemic the top priority of government's work. President Xi Jinping has convened two CPC Central Committee Political Bureau meetings and has given instructions on many occasions on the work of the prevention and control of the epidemic. The CPC Central Committee has set up a leading working group on the prevention and control of the epidemic headed by Premier Li Keqiang, and initiated a joint working and coordinating mechanism involving 32 government agencies. Premier Li has made inspection trip to the City of Wuhan, the epicenter of the epidemic, directing the work of the prevention and control.

Acting with a high sense of responsibility to people's health, the Chinese government has taken the most comprehensive and strict prevention and control measures, many of which have far exceeded what WHO and International Health Regulations required.

We have been making all efforts to enhance treatment for patients, identify all the suspected cases and treating all those who are infected, doing utmost to reduce severe cases and fatalities. We maintained the stringent quarantine measures to curb the spread of the epidemic. We mobilized medical resources across the country. Thousands of medical workers have been dispatched to Wuhan. We have set up a unified distribution system for material supply and personnel deployment at the national level. We have built a makeshift hospital with a capacity of 1,000 hospital beds in 10 days. Another hospital with 1,500 hospital beds is in its final stage of construction.  We have set up a national research team, carrying out scientific research on vaccines and speeding up the process for clinical use of the effective medicines. So far, we have seen some positive progress in our prevention and control efforts with case-fatality rate dropping to 2.1% and the number of new cured cased has exceeded the new death toll.

Since the outbreak, we have adopted an open, transparent and highly responsible approach, notifying the WHO and other countries of the epidemic, and sharing the genome sequence of the coronavirus in a timely manner. We have maintained close communication and cooperation with relevant countries including the United States. The international community spoke highly of China's efforts in epidemic prevention and control and its contribution to global public health security. As WHO Director-General Dr.Tedros said, China is setting a new standard for outbreak response. He has full confidence in China's capacity to control the outbreak.

Virus knows no borders so do its prevention and control measures. As a matter of fact, the world has seen the outbreaks of different epidemics, such as the H1N1 virus and the ebola epidemic. This fully proves that in a globalized world, infectious diseases are common challenges facing the international community. No country can stay immune on its own. We are all on the same boat. In face of the various public health challenges, only with the concerted efforts of the international community can we defeat the virus and safeguard the health of all mankind.

It is gratifying to see that since the outbreak of the epidemic, there is an outpouring of empathy and support to the Chinese people from friends of all walks of life in our consular district . Chinese community groups, companies and even students have made generous donations to support China's fight against the epidemic. I would like to express my sincere thanks to them for their loving hearts.

China attaches great importance to the safety and health of foreign nationals. We have provided necessary assistance and facilitation for the United States and some other countries to evacuate their citizens out of Wuhan. We understand the reasonable and necessary quarantine measures taken by some countries in response to the epidemic. On the other hand, we also believe that it is necessary to follow WHO's recommendations, make rational and science-based response to the current situation and not overreact.

While efforts are being made to contain the spread of the new coronavirus, we need to guard against the spread of xenophobia and racial profiling or discrimination against Chinese people or even Asians. Reports on the recent occurring of some of these acts and rhetoric and those ill intended attacks on China's social system and groundless accusation against Chinese government are disturbing. It reflects some people's deep-rooted ideological and racial stereotypes, which we firmly oppose. 　　

The Chinese Consulate General attaches great importance to the work of epidemic prevention and control. While we care deeply about our country and people, we are also doing what we can to ensure the well-being of Chinese nationals in our consular district. We have paid close attention to the epidemic situation here and kept close contact with the relevant government institutions, giving advice to the Chinese nationals and Chinese community on measures to prevent and control the epidemic, encouraging them to assess the epidemic situation and take precautionary measures in a rational and science-based manner. We have also provided assistance to the Chinese nationals confirmed of the new coronavirus pneumonia and those stranded in the US due to the recent travel restrictions imposed by the U.S side.

At present, the epidemic prevention and control has come to a crucial stage. As WHO Director-General put it, this is the time for facts, not fear; this is the time for science, not rumors; this is the time for solidarity, not stigma. We hope the international community will give more understanding and support to China's effort to prevent and control the epidemic.

China's social system has huge institutional advantages. We have a strong ability for social mobilization. China's economic size is enormous and our economic resilience is strong. We also have the rich experience in fighting SARS and in taking part in the fight against Ebola. We believe under the leadership of President Xi Jinping, and with the concerted effort of the Chinese people and the support of the international community, we have full confidence and capability to win the battle against the epidemic.

Thank you. My colleague and I will be pleased to answer your questions.