A senior writes an couplets in support of China's fight against the novel coronavirus at the annual Los Angeles Travel & Adventure Show in Los Angeles, the United States, Feb. 15, 2020. (Photo by Qian Weizhong/Xinhua)

BEIJING, March 27 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping said Friday that China hopes for the U.S. side to take practical and effective measures to safeguard the safety and health of Chinese citizens in the United States.

In a phone conversation with his U.S. counterpart, Donald Trump, Xi noted that there are currently a large number of Chinese nationals in the United States, including Chinese students.

The Chinese president also urged the United States to take substantive actions in improving bilateral relations.

He suggested that the two sides work together to boost cooperation in epidemic control and other fields, and develop a relationship of non-conflict, non-confrontation, mutual respect and win-win cooperation.