BEIJING — China on April 6 released a detailed timeline of the country's response to the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19), chronicling the main facts and measures it has taken in the global joint anti-virus efforts.

Based on media reports and information from the National Health Commission, scientific research institutions and other departments, the timeline offers a glimpse of China's efforts in timely releasing information, sharing experience in epidemic prevention and control, and advancing international exchanges and cooperation.

The timeline recorded major events from late December 2019 to March 2020.

The COVID-19 epidemic is a major public health emergency that has spread the fastest, caused the most extensive infections and been the hardest to contain since the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949, the document said.

Under the strong leadership of the Communist Party of China Central Committee with comrade Xi Jinping as the core, China has taken the most comprehensive, the strictest and the most thorough prevention and control measures to battle the epidemic, the document said.

In their tenacious fight against the coronavirus, 1.4 billion Chinese people have pulled together and paid a tremendous price and sacrificed a lot.

With the joint efforts of the whole nation, the positive trend in preventing and controlling the epidemic in China has been constantly consolidated and expanded, and the restoration of normal production and daily life has been quickened, according to the document.

The document noted a "formidable challenge" to global public health security as the pandemic has recently been spreading rapidly in the world.

According to data from the World Health Organization, COVID-19 had affected more than 200 countries and regions with over 1.13 million confirmed cases by April 5. 

Virus knows no national borders, and the epidemic distinguishes no races. Only with solidarity and by cooperation can the international community prevail over the pandemic and safeguard the common homeland of humanity, said the document.

Upholding the vision of building a community with a shared future for humanity, China has been timely releasing information on COVID-19 since the onset of the epidemic in an open, transparent and responsible manner, unreservedly sharing with the WHO and the international community its experience in epidemic response and medical treatment, and strengthening cooperation on scientific research.

It has also provided assistance to all parties to the best of its ability, according to the document.