A NSW Labor MP, who once gave a speech declaring China needed a "new world order" to reach its potential, has praised President Xi Jinping's "unswerving leadership" in handling the coronavirus crisis.

Shaoquett Moselmane, a member of the NSW upper house, claimed the Chinese leader had "fought [COVID-19] and contained it", describing the nation's response as "emphatic" and "decisive".

NSW Labor MLC Shaoquett Moselmane (far right) with his staffer, John Zhang, (second from the left) at a function at NSW Parliament in July 2018. Credit:WEMP.app

Mr Moselmane made the comments in a post on his personal website, where he stated that a nation needed "tough, unswerving leadership, focused on the mammoth task ahead" in order to contain the virus' spread.

"For the Peoples Republic of China, President Xi stepped up and provided that leadership. He mustered the resources of the nation and together with the great people of China – fought it and contained it," Mr Moselmane wrote.