Beijing: Warning that China's coronavirus epidemic is "still grim and complex", President Xi Jinping has called for more efforts to stop the outbreak, revive industry and prevent the disease from disrupting spring planting of crops.

Xi defended the ruling Communist Party's response as "timely and effective" in a Sunday video conference with officials in charge of anti-disease work, according to the official Xinhua News Agency.

The epidemic is a "crisis and a big test", said Chinese President Xi Jinping. Credit:AP

Xi sounded a note of caution in the face of hopes abroad that the disease that has killed more than 2400 people since December might be under control. He said the situation was at a "critical stage" and called on officials to "resolutely curb the spread of the epidemic".

"The current epidemic situation is still grim and complex," Xinhua cited Xi as saying. "Prevention and control are at the most critical stage."