Capitals-SANA
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi called on the international community to enhance cooperation in tackling the Corona virus and other epidemics, noting that the spread of this virus in several countries showed how closely all countries are related to each other.
"The current spread of this disease reminds us again that in the age of globalization, the fate of all countries is closely related to each other ... and therefore our interests are all common," Wang told Xinhua by phone with his French counterpart, Jean-Yves Le Drian.
Minister Wang stressed that strengthening cooperation in the field of health should be a priority for the international community, stressing China's readiness to make joint efforts to protect the health and safety of the Chinese people and people of all countries of the world.
In a telephone conversation with South Korean Foreign Minister Kang Kyung, Wang also announced that China intends to strengthen cooperation with the international community on the battle against the new Coronavirus in an open, transparent and responsible manner, noting that Beijing has implemented a nationwide system that gives full play to curbing the spread of the disease until efforts are advanced. To eliminate it.
On the other hand, and in the context of the repercussions of the spread of the Corona virus (British Airways), British Airways announced that it will suspend its flights to the Chinese cities of Beijing and Shanghai, after the British Foreign Ministry called on its citizens not to travel to China.
(British Airways) suspended online reservations for direct flights from London to Beijing and Shanghai until next March.
A State Department official also announced the evacuation of 240 Americans from the central Chinese city of Wuhan, which has been the epicenter of the outbreak of the new Corona virus.
"The US government chartered a plane that took off today with the aim of evacuating 240 Americans, including diplomats working for the US consulate in Wuhan and other American citizens," the official said.
In turn, Indian External Affairs Ministry spokesman Ravesh Kumar announced the start of the preparatory process for the evacuation of Indian citizens affected by the worsening conditions of the spread of Corona in Wuhan, while Bangladesh Foreign Minister Abdul Momen said that talks are underway to return citizens from China.
On the other hand, researchers from the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunology in the Australian city of Melbourne announced that they have successfully developed a version of the new Corona virus in the laboratory, which will help greatly in combating the spread of the disease in the world.
The institute experts added that "the virus sample will be used to create an antibody test to allow detection of the virus in patients who have no symptoms as well as to contribute to making a vaccine."
Earlier in the day, the Chinese health authorities had reported 5,974 confirmed cases of pneumonia caused by the new Coronavirus in 31 regions, which had left 132 deaths so far.
