Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa in Brasilia, Brazil, Nov. 14, 2019. (File photo: Xinhua)

BEIJING, May 15 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday urged the international community to step up support for Africa's fight against the COVID-19 pandemic and actively participate in the initiative endorsed by the Group of 20 to suspend debt service payments for the world's poorest countries.

Xi made the remarks in a telephone conversation with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa.