New Delhi: Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday sent a message of sympathy to Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the coronavirus surge in India and offered to provide support and help to deal with the current surge of COVID-19 cases in the country.

The state-run Xinhua news agency reported that in his message, Xi said China is willing to strengthen anti-pandemic cooperation with India, and provide support and help to the country.

“I am very concerned about the recent situation of COVID-19 pandemic in India. On behalf of the Chinese Government and people, as well as in my own name, I would like to express sincere sympathies to the Indian Government and people,” President Xi said, according to a tweet by Chinese Ambassador to India Sun Weidong.

“The Chinese side stands ready to strengthen cooperation with the Indian side in fighting the pandemic and provide support and help in this regard. I believe that under the leadership of the Indian government, the Indian people will surely prevail over the pandemic,” Xi also reportedly said.

On Friday, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi spoke to External Affairs Minister Jaishankar on the telephone on the same issue. Jaishankar tweeted in the evening that he had raised the issue of air connectivity remaining open in the call.

On April 26, the Chinese Sichuan Airlines suspended cargo flights to India for a fortnight amidst the latest surge in cases, putting a spanner in the procurement of oxygen concentrators from China amidst a crippling shortage.

China had promised “co-operation” at that stage and said, “We will encourage and guide Chinese companies to actively cooperate with India to facilitate acquiring medical supplies, and provide support and help according to India’s need.”

Wang Yi had, on Thursday, also written to Jaishankar, promising to “do the utmost” in supporting India’s fight against the COVID-19 surge, and expressing empathy.

Wang, in his letter to Jaishankar, wrote that the coronavirus is the “common enemy of mankind” and reiterated that  the “international community needs solidarity and coordination for a concerted response.”

“The Chinese side firmly supports the Indian Government and people in fighting the pandemic,” he wrote in the letter, a copy of which was tweeted by Chinese Ambassador to India Sun Weidong.

Wang also crucially added that materials to fight the pandemic, which are produced in China, are entering India at a fast pace. “The Chinese side will continue to do its utmost to provide support and help according to the needs of India. We hope and believe that under the leadership of the Indian government, the Indian people will surely prevail over the epidemic at an early date,” he added.

The messages from President Xi and Foreign Minister Wang come even as the militaries of the two countries are yet to resolve the stand-off at the remaining areas of eastern Ladakh after the withdrawal from Pangong lake area in February.

India on Friday logged 3,86,452 new coronavirus infections, the highest single-day rise so far, pushing the total tally of COVID-19 cases to 1,87,62,976, while active cases crossed the 31-lakh mark. The death toll increased to 2,08,330 with 3,498 new fatalities.