Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha and her Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi, have discussed ways to cooperate in dealing with the new strain of coronavirus.
According to Seoul's foreign ministry, during a phone call late Tuesday, Kang requested Beijing's support to protect South Koreans in China against the outbreak of the virus.
Kang also sought China's assistance with an impending plan to evacuate South Korean nationals from Wuhan this week.
She expressed hope that the spread of the virus could be contained soon through the Chinese government's active engagement, and pledged to offer necessary supplies to the country.
Seoul plans to provide some 2 million masks and other medical relief goods, including 200,000 items of protective clothing and goggles, to help fight the disease.
The Chinese minister was said to have vowed Beijing's commitment to the protection of South Koreans as well as maintain close communication and cooperation with Seoul in dealing with the virus.■
<Photo: Yonhap News>
