Chinese Premier Li Keqiang said on Thursday that the Chinese people are ready to support Sudan in their fight against COVID-19, within its capacity.

He made the remarks in a phone conversation with Sudan's Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok.

China and Sudan enjoy a deep traditional friendship, said Li, adding that the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic in Africa has recently been accelerating, and the Chinese people empathize with the COVID-19 threat the Sudanese people are facing.

Li also said that viruses are the common enemy of the human race and no country can stand alone in an epidemic, adding that the Chinese people are willing to join peoples around the world, including the African people, in overcoming the difficulties, so as to maintain global public health security.

On his part, Hamdok said, his country appreciates China's positive role in promoting international COVID-19 containment cooperation, and opposes any acts to stigmatize any countries.

He also said that his country is thankful to the selfless help from the Chinese side, and is willing to step up cooperation and experience exchanges in preventing and controlling the pandemic, and to deepen the traditional friendship between the two countries.