UNITED NATIONS, Sept. 26  -- China will always stand together with Sierra Leone in fighting Ebola and help Africa build up its epidemic prevention capacity, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said here on Friday.

Sierra Leone is a good friend and brother of China, Wang said in meeting with Sierra Leone Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Samura Kamara on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly.

China sympathizes with Sierra Leone, as it is suffering from the outbreak of the Ebola epidemic, Wang said.

China has provided Sierra Leone with cash grant, food and mobile bio-safety laboratories, Wang said, adding there are 60 Chinese anti-epidemic experts and medical workers working hand in hand with local people to fight the epidemic.

"We are now in a critical stage in the fight against Ebola," he said. The Chinese government and people will always stand together and work in concert with the government and people of Sierra Leone, and make our contributions in a bid to control the epidemic at an early date.

China will also carry out public health cooperation with Africa under the framework of China-Africa Cooperation Forum and help Africa build up its epidemic prevention capacity.

Kamara said that adversity reveals true friendship. The government and people of Sierra Leone express heartfelt thanks to China for its provision of anti-epidemic materials, funds and laboratories immediately after the outbreak of the Ebola epidemic in Sierra Leone.

The generous support from China highlights that China is a genuine strategic partner of Sierra Leone and African countries. The image of China has become even more upright and taller, he said.

The Ebola epidemic is still plaguing Sierra Leone, the minister said. It is hoped that China will continue its support in the fight against the epidemic and help Sierra Leone and Africa as a whole build up their disease prevention and control capacity.