BEIJING — Upon the initiative of China, State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi on March 20 held a special video conference on COVID-19 with Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha of the Republic of Korea (ROK) and Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi of Japan.

Wang expressed his appreciation to the ROK and Japan for actively responding to China's initiative on holding a special video conference on COVID-19. He noted that this has reflected their firm determination to work together in the face of major challenges to overcome difficulties and their strong will to work hand in hand to fight the epidemic in a commitment to maintain normal exchanges and cooperation.

Wang gave a briefing on the progress China has made in advancing epidemic prevention and control while pursuing economic and social development.

He said that facing the sudden outbreak of COVID-19, it is a natural choice for the three countries to strengthen cooperation to tide over the difficulties together.

China suggests that the three countries jointly take effective measures to consolidate their respective achievements in fighting the epidemic and resume economic cooperation and trade among the three countries in an orderly manner to contribute to promoting the regional and global economy. The three countries should also share their experience in fighting the epidemic with other countries and work with the international community to meet the challenges posed by COVID-19, he said.

It is believed that with the concerted efforts of the three countries, they will be able to dispel the dark shadow of the disease at an early date and win a final victory. In the meantime, the friendship and mutual trust among the three countries will also be further deepened and cooperation be enhanced, he added.

Kang Kyung-wha and Toshimitsu Motegi thanked the Chinese side for providing support and assistance to their respective countries in fighting COVID-19 and briefed Wang on the efforts and progress that the ROK and Japan have made in responding to the epidemic.

They noted that the spread of COVID-19 around the world has endangered the well-being of the peoples of the three countries and beyond, therefore it is necessary for China, the ROK and Japan to get united, share information and assist each other to meet challenges together, prevent the spread of the epidemic and minimize the impact on the essential economic exchanges and trade among the three countries so as to uphold regional development, security and stability.

Wang noted that the video conference was quite timely and successful. They had an in-depth exchange of views on jointly responding to COVID-19 and built new and important consensus on the basis of the previous tripartite meeting at the working level.

They agreed to strengthen China-Japan-ROK cooperation to curb the spread of COVID-19.

They agreed to explore a joint prevention and control mechanism to effectively prevent the cross-border spread of the epidemic.

They agreed to seek mutually acceptable solutions to maintain necessary people-to-people exchanges related to economic cooperation and trade and stabilize the industrial chain and supply chain of the three countries.

They agreed to hold a meeting of health ministers of the three countries as soon as possible to strengthen information sharing and carry out cooperation in drug and vaccine research and development.

They agreed to take the joint fight against COVID-19 as an opportunity to keep enhancing the friendship among the three peoples.

They also agreed to actively shoulder their international responsibility to improve global public health and work hand in hand to make due contribution to the global fight against COVID-19.