China's Permanent Representative to the UN Zhang Jun briefs UN media on China's decisive and strong measures to combat the novel coronavirus at the UN headquarters in New York, Jan. 30, 2020.(Xinhua/Li Muzi)

A Chinese envoy thanked UN's support in the fight against novel coronavirus, noting the fullest and strictest control measures in China are achieving results and China is fully confident and capable of defeating the epidemic.

UNITED NATIONS, Feb. 8 (Xinhua) -- China's Permanent Representative to the United Nations (UN) Zhang Jun on Friday expressed his appreciation for UN support in China's fight against novel coronavirus.

Zhang made the remarks during a meeting with Mourad Wahba, acting associate administrator of the UN Development Programme (UNDP).

Wahba transmitted a letter from UNDP administrator Achim Steiner to Chinese leaders on the prevention and control of the novel coronavirus, expressing UNDP's confidence in China, solidarity with the Chinese people, and commitment to provide all possible assistance.

Zhang introduced China's efforts to fight the outbreak. He said that under the deployment and command of President Xi Jinping, China has managed a nationwide mobilization and deployment, quickly responding to the outbreak.

The fullest and strictest control measures have been put in place, he said, adding the efforts are achieving results and that China is fully confident and capable of defeating the epidemic.

He went on to say that the Chinese government is engaged in international cooperation in an open, transparent and responsible manner, sharing information and effectively protecting the health of foreign nationals in China. "China's efforts are highly commended by the international community," he said.

The UN has been standing in solidarity with China since the outbreak, Zhang noted.

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres speaks at a press conference at the UN headquarters in New York, on Feb. 4, 2020, appealing for a strong feeling of support to China in the difficult circumstances. (Xinhua/Wang Jiangang)

More specifically, he said UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed in various ways his full support for and confidence in China's prevention and control efforts. President of the UN General Assembly Tijjani Muhammad-Bande called on the international community to maintain solidarity, respect science, and avoid panic and stigma.

UNICEF has responded quickly and provided emergency medical supplies to China. UNDP Administrator Steiner, several senior officials of the UN, as well as the UN Office of Counter-Terrorism, UN Women, UN Population Fund, UN Office for South-South Cooperation and UN Alliance of Civilizations have expressed support for China in different ways.

"For this, China is deeply grateful," he said.

Zhang recalled that the World Health Organization (WHO) has repeatedly called on countries not to overreact. "China understands and respects the measures that some countries have adopted to strengthen quarantine and control. At the same time, some countries have applied comprehensive suspension of flights and restrictions on the entry of Chinese citizens, which are contrary to the professional recommendations of the WHO," he said.

Instead of helping prevent and control the epidemic, he said, these measures interfere with normal exchange of personnel and have negative effects. "Countries that politicize the campaign against the outbreak and those who make racist comments and take a discriminatory attitude violate human conscience and should be severely condemned," he said. ■