President Xi Jinping sent a message of sympathy on Monday to Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida over his infection with COVID-19 and wished him a speedy recovery.

As this year marks the 50th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic relations between China and Japan, Xi said in his message that he stands ready to work with Kishida to promote the building of a bilateral relationship that meets the needs of the new era.

Premier Li Keqiang also sent a message of sympathy to Kishida on Monday.

Xinhua News Agency quoted Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno as saying that the 65-year-old Japanese prime minister is displaying mild symptoms and was able to attend a meeting remotely from his official residence on Monday morning.