BEIJING — The global spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak will have an impact on China's manufacturing sector but at a manageable level, said a vice-minister of industry and information technology on March 13.

Given the trend of industrial globalization, the spread of COVID-19 contagions overseas such as in Europe and the United States will surely affect China's manufacturing sector, Xin Guobin, vice-minister of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, told a press conference.

The level of the impact would be subject to how long the pandemic would last and the outcome of joint global response against the outbreak, he said, noting that the global transmission of the virus has gone beyond expectation.

But Xin said he believes the impact would be manageable, considering China's sound fundamentals of industrial development, massive domestic market and complete industrial chain.

The ministry will pay attention to the potential shock, strengthen communication with other governments and encourage production resumption to eliminate the economic impact of the COVID-19 outbreak, he said.