Chinese President Xi Jinping placed a call to German Chancellor Angela Merkel on March 25, to discuss the COVID-19 pandemic. He expressed a desire for deeper Sino-German cooperation and said “China is willing to share prevention, control and treatment experience with Germany, strengthen cooperation in vaccine and drug research and development, and contribute to the health and well-being of the two peoples and global public health and safety.” Angela Merkel agreed and said “Germany thanks China for its timely and valuable help and hopes to carry out scientific research cooperation with China in the areas of vaccine and drug research and development and other fields, so as to set an example of solidarity.”

(Comment: Over the last two weeks, Xi Jinping has called various foreign leaders each day to express support and offer medical aid and expertise.)