BEIJING, March 26 (Xinhua) -- China and France should continue carrying on their good tradition of supporting each other and jointly tackle challenges posed by the COVID-19 epidemic, the two countries' foreign ministers said Thursday.

In their phone conversation, Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi and French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian briefed each other on the latest progress in the two countries' fight against the epidemic.

Both sides agreed that the two foreign ministries should strengthen coordination at the working level over the upcoming Group of 20 (G20) summit, push the international community to send a positive signal of solidarity and coordination, swiftly adopt multilateral action in fighting COVID-19, safeguard international public health security and preserve the health of mankind and world prosperity and stability.

The call was made ahead of the G20 extraordinary leaders' summit on COVID-19, which was held online later Thursday.