On 17 February 2020, Ambassador Zhang Ming, Head of the Chinese Mission to the EU, met with Mr. Johannes Hahn, European Commissioner for Budget and Administration.

Ambassador Zhang briefed on the latest development in the COVID-19 outbreak and China's response efforts and thanked the EU for its support and assistance in this regard. He noted that China would seek stronger with the international community in an open, transparent and responsible way. It is hoped that the EU will continue to assess the situation calmly and objectively, respect WHO's professional recommendations, and work with China to prevail over the epidemic at an early date.

Mr. Hahn recalled his experience in working in the health sector, saying that he has been where China is now. The EU is willing to keep communicating and collaborating with China and provide support and assistance to China.

The two sides also exchanged views about China-EU relations as well as their pragmatic cooperation in responding to climate change, upholding multilateralism, promoting people-to-people exchanges, and other fields.