The European Union's Commissioner for Crisis Management Janez Lenarčič has thanked China for its donation to Italy to aid in the fight against COVID-19.

China sent a plane-load of medical equipment to Rome as the country continues its efforts to curb further spread of COVID-19.

The donations included 2 million surgical masks, 200,000 N95 masks and 50,000 testing kits.

"We are grateful for China's support and, as President von der Leyen stated, we need each other's support in times of need," Lenarčič said on Monday.

The donation comes after March talks between EU President Ursula von der Leyen and Chinese Premier Li Keqiang.

In their phone conversation, Premier Li reaffirmed China's position to stand firmly with Europe and also reiterated China's readiness to facilitate Europe's purchase of medical supplies via commercial channels.

Italy is one of the worst affected countries globally, having registered over 15,000 deaths, with more than 128,000 confirmed cases. Some 21,815 patients have fully recovered.

Globally, confirmed cases of COVID-19 have exceeded 1.28 million, with the death toll exceeding 70,000, according to Johns Hopkins University.