China’s Xi offers Trump help in coronavirus fight

(Reuters) – Chinese President Xi Jinping told U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday that he would have China’s support in fighting the coronavirus, as Wuhan, the Chinese city where the outbreak emerged, reopened to incoming traffic.

The United States now has the most coronavirus cases of any country, with nearly 85,000 infections. Hospitals in cities including New York and New Orleans are struggling to cope with the wave of patients.

Trump said China had sent virus data to U.S. scientists and was sending more after he and Xi spoke by telephone.

“We talked about the experience that they had in China and all the things that have taken place. And we learned a lot,” Trump told reporters.

“They have had a very tough experience. And they are doing well … President Xi is doing very well. We learned a lot and we have great communication together.”

Xi’s offer of assistance follows a war of words between Beijing and Washington over various issues, including the pandemic. Trump and other U.S. officials have accused Beijing of a lack of transparency over the outbreak, and Trump has referred to coronavirus as the “Chinese virus” because it originated there late last year.

According to an account of the conversation published by the Chinese foreign ministry, Xi reiterated to Trump that China had been open and transparent.

“We are working closely together,” Trump said on Twitter. “Much respect!”