Some companies in China have resumed operations amid the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak.

The Chinese government has also introduced business-friendly measures and policies to help stimulate the economy, a move that has been hailed by countries across the world.

In South Africa, some leaders said it would allow the rest of the world to resume co-operation with China in import, export and other fields.

China's economy plays an essential part of the global supply chain.

"We are happy that some of the Chinese workers and professionals are going back to work because clearly the world also looks at the Chinese economy into purchasing goods, exports and imports, so we are very happy," said Cameron Dugmore, the Leader of opposition in South Africa’s Western Cape Provincial Parliament.

"Because our economy they depend on each other, there’s inter-dependence of world economy, so the sooner China gets better gets into its full capacity in production, the better for the whole world." said Lerumo Kalako, the Interim Chairperson of ANC Western Cape.

As of February 25, the total number of confirmed cases stood at 77,779 in China and 2,300 abroad. Some 2,666 have been reported in China (including 2 in Hong Kong, 1 in Taiwan), and 33 abroad. 27,323 have recovered in China.

The Chinese government has however stepped up efforts to contain the spread of the virus, deploying thousands of medical personnel to the epicenter, Wuhan.

The response by the Chinese government has been hailed around the world, including by the World Health Organization’s Director-General, Tedros Adhanom.