China's Assistant Foreign Minister Chen Xiaodong met with diplomats from more than 20 African countries over the reported mistreatment of African people in southern Chinese city of Guangzhou, reassuring that all foreigners are treated equally under China's virus prevention rules.

Chen said the Chinese government attaches high importance to the health and safety of foreign nationals in China, and treats them equally and rejects any discriminatory measures in the coronavirus outbreak response.

Recently, some reports claimed that African people living in Guangzhou were moved out of their rented flats and turned away from hotels over suspicions aroused by coronavirus cases among Nigerians.

The Chinese government pays high attention to such issues and Guangdong Province has applied "non-differentiated" measures to both Chinese and foreign travelers, Chen told ambassadors and representatives from African countries in Beijing.

According to local regulations, health authorities will immediately start removing restrictions imposed on African people who are not confirmed COVID-19 patients or in close contact with them (including suspected cases), he added.

Chen reiterated that China treats all foreign nationals equally and it will make sure African people are treated equally, fairly and friendly.

He also asked the diplomats to tell a true and full story of the prevention and control measures taken by the Chinese government.

Guangdong is a frontline province of China's opening-up and faces huge pressure to prevent a resurgence of COVID-19, Chen added.

On their side, African diplomats expressed concerns over the treatment of African people in Guangzhou, but said they appreciate the new measures taken by the local government and will file immediate, comprehensive reports back home.

China and Africa are good brothers and partners, and the current issue in Guangdong Province is between China and Africa and that can be settled through negotiation.

No external force can undermine the friendship between Africa and China, they said.

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