BEIJING — China, while shoring up its own epidemic fight, stands ready to strengthen solidarity and cooperation with African countries and support and help them to the best of its capabilities, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Geng Shuang said on March 10.

Throughout China's fight against the novel coronavirus epidemic, African countries have been standing alongside China, supporting it in various ways, Geng told a press briefing.

Leaders of almost all the African countries that have diplomatic ties with China and Chairperson of the African Union (AU) Commission have all expressed sympathy and support by phone calls or letters, he said.

The AU Council of Ministers, the Peace and Security Council of the AU, the African Ministers of Health Conference, Meeting of the Ministers of Health of the Economic Community of West African States and March 9's Extraordinary Meeting for Southern African Development Community Ministers of Health have all spoke highly of China's epidemic response, he added.

"We are touched in particular to see some African countries offering us funds or goods despite their own limited resources. This is the best embodiment of the brotherhood the two sides share through thick and thin and the joint efforts toward building a more closely-knit community with a shared future," said the spokesperson.