BEIJING, Feb. 23 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping on Sunday said the positive trend of containing the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak is expanding.

The COVID-19 outbreak is a major public health emergency that spreads fastest, causes the most extensive infection and is the most difficult to contain in the country since the founding of the People's Republic of China, said Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission.

"This is both a crisis and a big test for us," Xi said at a meeting in Beijing on coordinating COVID-19 control and economic and social development, adding that after arduous work, the positive trend of prevention and control is now expanding.

"It has been proven that the CPC Central Committee's judgment on the situation of the epidemic is accurate, all work arrangements are timely, and the measures taken are effective," said Xi.

"The results of the prevention and control work have once again demonstrated the notable advantages of the leadership of the CPC and the system of socialism with Chinese characteristics," he added.