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BEIJING, July 20-- Chinese President Xi Jinping said Monday in a phone conversation with Zambian President Edgar Lungu that the two countries' joint fight against the COVID-19 pandemic is expected to help lift their relations to a higher level, better benefiting the two peoples. Noting that the novel coronavirus pandemic stands as a grim crisis and test for the world, Xi said that China and Africa, in the face of the outbreak, have firmly stood together, supporting each other and joining hands in the fight. He said African countries including Zambia delivered invaluable support to China in the early days of its epidemic fight, and China, who empathized with them when they were hit by the virus, took the lead in providing support and anti-epidemic supplies as well as in sharing the experience in virus prevention and control so as to help improve their anti-coronavirus work. The Chinese president said that he has repeatedly called for strengthening the support to African countries, adding that China is stepping up the implementation of related measures, and will continue to do what it can to help Zambia and other African countries beat the virus and restore economic and social development. Xi said he also believes that the normal life and work of Chinese nationals and operations of Chinese enterprises in Zambia will continue to be guaranteed by the Zambian side. Xi stressed that in recent years, the friendly and cooperative relations between China and Zambia have maintained a good momentum, and they have supported each other on issues concerning each other's core interests and major concerns. | 
