The COVID-19 pandemic has dominated the world this year and for most countries, including China and countries across Europe, it has been their foremost challenge.

Speaking to CGTN Europe's The Agenda with Stephen Cole program, China's ambassador to the European Union, Zhang Ming, said that the two sides were working closely together to fight the pandemic, but that further global cooperation and less stigmatization was needed.

"China and the EU are helping each other in response to COVID-19," Zhang said.

"Solidarity and cooperation is the most powerful weapon against the virus. We offered each other urgently needed medical supplies. Chinese medical teams worked in several European countries. Chinese and European scientists and health professionals shared [their] experience via video conferencing," he added.

Zhang said the roles of China and the EU in fighting the pandemic have been very important and their cooperation vital. 

"As major economies, China and the EU are two engines powering the steady operation of global supply chains and restarting economic activities," he said.

Zhang also addressed those who have blamed China for the outbreak, saying that blaming a certain country or nation for a global pandemic has existed for a long time and still exists today.

"What we need are the facts and evidence. Unfortunately, some are using the pandemic to stigmatize China for political gains. Some are using China to shift attention away from their own troubles. Such distortions do little to help the global cooperation against the pandemic," Zhang said.

"The pandemic teaches us that isolation, suspicion and discrediting make no sense. We need cooperation, trust and consultation. Countries with different systems could work together for the public good and bring out their respective strengths. This is what China and Europe are doing and are supposed to do," he added.