LONDON — Visiting medical experts from East China's Shandong province have held a video conference with British colleagues led by Deputy Chief Medical Officer for England Jonathan Van-Tam, exchanging experience in COVID-19 epidemic prevention and control, disease diagnosis and treatment.

Chairing the video meeting at the Chinese embassy in London, Chinese Ambassador to Britain Liu Xiaoming said following a strenuous struggle and tremendous sacrifices, the situation in China has kept improving and the economic and social order is getting back to normal, but the virus continues to spread around the world and here situation in Britain is worrying.

"At this critical moment, no country is immune. We must stand in solidarity and come to each other's aid," said Liu.

Expressing thanks to the British government for its sincere help and support to China during the COVID-19 outbreak, Wang Hua, vice-chairman of the Standing Committee of Shandong Provincial People's Congress and leader of the Chinese medical working group, said the group has brought medical supplies including ventilators, test kits and medical protective equipment to support the British people in fighting the epidemic.

The working group traveled to Britain to visit and console the Chinese community in Britain and assist in Britain's fight against the epidemic. The group is willing to work with the British colleagues to implement the important consensus reached between leaders of the two countries, Wang said.

For his part, Van-Tam hailed China's effective measures to control the epidemic while paying tribute to the braveness and fearlessness of Chinese medical staff in fighting the epidemic.

Noting that Britain is now at a critical stage in combating the epidemic, the Deputy Chief Medical Officer for England thanked China for offering Britain assistance and urgently needed medical supplies such as ventilators and personal protective equipment.

Britain is willing to learn from China's knowledge and experience in epidemic prevention and control and diagnosis and treatment, while continuing to strengthen cooperation between the two countries in fighting the epidemic, he said.

Arriving at Heathrow Airport in London on March 28, the 15-member working group includes six medical experts specializing in disease prevention and control, traditional Chinese medicine and Western medicine and psychological counseling, among others.

According to Britain's Department of Health and Social Care, the number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Britain reached 29,474 as of the morning on April 1, an increase of 4,324 in 24 hours.

As of the afternoon on March 31, of those hospitalized in the country who tested positive for novel coronavirus, 2,352 have died, up 563 over the same time on the previous day, said the department.