Chinese president Xi Jinping has said that his country and the US must "unite" in the fight against coronavirus, following a phone call with his American counterpart, president Donald Trump.
The two leaders shared the call to discuss the global coronavirus pandemic.
President Xi was insistent following the call that the Chinese state maintained transparency throughout the initial COVID-19 outbreak, dismissing Trump's earlier claim that China held back on fully informing other nations until the virus had already begun spreading.
China has been active in sending aid to other countries whose healthcare services are being stretched.
Xi added that he had offered to lend his support to the US and he hoped that protecting the health of Chinese citizens living there would be a priority.
Revealing his take on the phone call, president Trump tweeted: "Just finished a very good conversation with President Xi of China.
"[We] discussed in great detail the coronavirus that is ravaging large parts of our planet. China has been through much and has developed a strong understanding of the virus."
Trump ended his tweet by saying: "We are working closely together. Much respect!"
It is a notable change in tone from the US president, who since the outbreak had repeatedly referred to COVID-19 as the "Chinese virus".