BEIJING — Chinese immigration authorities have worked in joint efforts with their counterparts in neighboring countries to contain the cross-border transmission of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19), an official said on April 27.

Liu Haitao, an official with the National Immigration Administration (NIA), made the remarks at a press conference on China's response to the coronavirus outbreak.

Chinese immigration organs in border areas have held over 200 bilateral talks through video, telephone and letters with foreign border management authorities to exchange information on epidemic situations, exit and entry information, and epidemic containment measures, Liu noted.

Stressing the efforts to minimize the number of unnecessary cross-border travelers and vehicles, Liu said the NIA ordered subordinate units to strengthen exit and entry checks and the publicity of epidemic prevention knowledge with some border inspection agencies in neighboring countries.

Immigration authorities in China and its neighboring countries also intensified border patrols to jointly combat cross-border criminal activities, and established a working scheme to swiftly verify and repatriate illegal border-crossers to prevent virus transmission, Liu said.