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VIENTIANE, Feb. 20-- China is confident in winning the fight against the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) amid the support of the international community including the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), said Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi here on Wednesday night. Speaking at the dinner party of the Special ASEAN-China Foreign Ministers' Meeting on Coronavirus Disease and the fifth Lancang-Mekong Cooperation Foreign Ministers' Meeting, Wang said that under the direct command of Chinese President Xi Jinping, Chinese people are rallying together to counter the COVID-19 epidemic. After arduous efforts, the situation is changing for the better, Wang said, noting that currently, the city of Wuhan and Hubei Province remain the areas severely affected by the epidemic, but the situation is under effective control, while other regions are embracing comforting news. For example, the number of COVID-19 cases has been declining for 15 consecutive days, while that of cured patients is rising. By Tuesday, more than 14,000 coronavirus patients had been cured and discharged from hospitals, the first time that the cured cases have surpassed the confirmed cases of the day. This shows that the epidemic is controllable and curable, Wang said. Viruses are common enemies of mankind, and the international community needs to join hands to tackle them, he noted. Facing the COVID-19 epidemic, China is not fighting alone, and the country is receiving support and understanding from countries across the world; till now, heads of more than 160 countries and over 30 international organizations had expressed firm support to China, he added. | 
