French President Emmanuel Macron sought on Saturday to win over Italians, saying in an interview with Italy's leading newspapers that France was there to help and Italians should be wary of thinking only China and Russia have helped to fight the coronavirus.

Macron also called for stronger budget solidarity in Europe.

"France is alongside Italy," Macron said in a interview with Italian newspapers La Repubblica, Corriere della Sera and La Stampa.

Read more: Italy criticizes EU for not responding its call for help: 'only China responded bilaterally'

Chinese aid

"There is a lot of talk about Chinese or Russian aid, but why don't we say that France and Germany have delivered two million masks and tens of thousands gowns to Italy?" Macron said.

"It is not sufficient, but this is just a start and we must not let ourselves be intoxicated with what our international partners and competitors say".

Italy, one of the countries worst-hit by the virus worldwide, was sharply critical of France and Germany after they initially declined to provide face masks and other equipment to help handle the outbreak.

Read more: China sends third team of medical experts to Italy

Rome turned instead for help to China, which has so far sent two medical teams with 22 people and at least 20 tons of medical supplies alongside masks and ventilators bearing "Forza Italia" stickers with small Chinese and Italian flags, leaving a powerful impression on Italians.

"Europe must feel proud and strong, because it is. But it must indeed go much further. This is why I defend budget solidarity in the management of this crisis and of its consequences," Macron added.

"What worries me is the illness of every man for himself: if we do not show solidarity, Italy, Spain or others would be able to say to their European partners: where have you been when we were at the front? I do not want this selfish and divided Europe".

Watch: Italy's civil protection chief thanks China for assistance

Crisis in Italy

The death toll from the outbreak of coronavirus in Italy has surged by 919 to 9,134, the Civil Protection Agency said on Friday, easily the highest daily tally since the epidemic emerged on Feb. 21.

Prior to Friday's figure, the largest daily toll was registered on March 21, when 793 people died.

The hardest-hit northern region of Lombardy reported a steep rise in fatalities compared with the day before and remains in a critical situation, with a total of 5,402 deaths and 37,298 cases.

With figures jumping at the end of the week, the total number of confirmed cases in Italy has increased from 80,539 to 86,498, taking Italy's total past that of China, where the coronavirus epidemic emerged.

Read more: EU marks 25th anniversary of Schengen with closed borders

On Friday, Italian President Sergio Mattarella said Europe must adopt new measures to confront the threat posed by the coronavirus, telling European Union leaders they had to react before it was too late.

Mattarella's message, made in a rare, televised address to the nation, came after EU leaders had failed to agree on a common approach to dealing with the escalating economic fallout from the pandemic.

"Solidarity is not only required by the values of the union but is also in the common interest," Mattarella said.

Italy, Spain, Portugal and France want the 27-nation group to issue joint debt to help finance a recovery from the emergency that looks certain to push many countries deep into recession. Germany and the Netherlands have blocked the call.

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