On February 17, 2020 local time, Vice Foreign Minister Qin Gang held working consultation with Veikko Kala, Foreign Policy Adviser to the Estonian Prime Minister and Andres Rundu, Estonian Vice Foreign Minister respectively in Tallinn, capital of Estonia.

Qin Gang briefed on the latest situation of China's prevention and control efforts against the novel coronavirus pneumonia outbreak, stressing that the Chinese side has confidence, capability and determination in defeating the epidemic. The impact of the epidemic on China's economic development is short-lived and temporary, and the fundamentals of China's long-term economic development remain unchanged. We will strive to achieve the economic and social development goals set for this year.

Qin Gang said, the Chinese side attaches importance to developing friendly cooperative relations with the Estonian side and hopes that the two sides will work together to plan and prepare for exchanges and cooperation at all levels and in all fields this year to promote the Belt and Road Initiative and cooperation between China and Central and Eastern European Countries (CEEC) for greater development.

The Estonian side expressed, the Estonian government and people pay great attention to and fully support the Chinese side's fight against the epidemic, believing that the measures the Chinese side has taken are timely and effective. Hoping and believing that the situation will be improved as soon as possible, the Estonian side is willing to continue to maintain close communication and coordination with the Chinese side, further strengthen high-level exchanges and mutually beneficial cooperation between the two countries and achieve more results through joint efforts to build the Belt and Road Initiative and CEEC-China cooperation.