President Xi Jinping spoke with Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel on the phone on the evening of 28 February.

President Xi noted that immediately after the outbreak began, Raúl Castro, First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba, and you sent me messages of sympathies. President Díaz-Canel also visited the Chinese embassy in Cuba as a demonstration of support for China. These kind gestures speak volumes about the profound traditional friendship between our two countries. Cuba has followed WHO's professional recommendations and maintained normal exchanges and cooperation with China. This is yet another indication of Cuba's respect and support for our control effort. We highly appreciate the understanding and support rendered by Cuba and from President Díaz-Canel personally.

Xi stressed that I have personally taken charge of the nationwide response, and the whole country is waging a united battle against the outbreak. The most comprehensive, rigorous and thorough measures have been taken. Our approach is to ensure early detection, reporting, quarantine and treatment, and patients in severe conditions are admitted to the facilities where the best resources and professionals are pooled to enable effective treatment. Our primary task now is to raise admission and cure rates and lower infection and fatality rates. Thanks to these extraordinary efforts, the situation is increasingly trending in a positive direction. We are confident that we can and we will end the outbreak in China.

Xi stressed that China's response is guided by the recognition that mankind is a community of shared destiny. To limit the further spread of the virus, the Chinese side has acted in an open, transparent and responsible manner in sharing timely information with WHO and the global community, actively responding to various concerns, and seeking cooperation with the rest of the world. China has also taken strong and effective measures to protect the health and safety of Cuban and other foreign nationals in China. Our efforts are recognized by WHO and the international community. China will continue to work with Cuba in health, medicine and epidemic prevention and control.

Xi pointed out that the Chinese nation, who had seen many trials and tribulations, has never been crushed. The outbreak's impact on the Chinese economy will be short-lived. The fundamentals of the economy will remain strong in the long run. We are taking coordinated steps to both contain the outbreak and promote economic and social development. Even as we make solid, unremitting efforts to control the outbreak, we are adopting a range of policies to steadily restore normal production and life and strive to achieve this year's targets for economic and social development. We have full confidence in achieving this.

President Díaz-Canel said that Cuba highly appreciates and firmly supports China's efforts to combat the outbreak, and thanked China for the help and care given to Cuban nationals here. China has responded to this serious challenge with a united, swift and forceful nationwide effort, which is proving effective. This is a real demonstration of China's strong mobilization ability and the tremendous strength of the socialist system.

President Díaz-Canel said that China's timely and effective response has contributed significantly to limiting the spread of the virus worldwide. This has been highly recognized by the United Nations, WHO and the global community. He expressed confidence that under the strong leadership of the CPC with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core and by tapping into its great national strength and experience with SARS in 2003, China will win a decisive victory against the COVID-19 outbreak. Cuba stands firmly with China in this time of difficulty and is always ready to do all it can to help the brotherly nation of China.

(The full text is available at: http://www.xinhuanet.com/politics/leaders/2020-02/29/c_1125641367.htm.)