China to allow WHO experts to trace coronavirus origin after US withdraws from UN agency

After months of resistance, China has finally agreed to allow a team of experts from World Health Organisations (WHO) to trace origin of vel coronavirus. China’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian told a regular press briefing on July 8 that Beijing reached a basic consensus with UN health ncy that virus tracing is a serious and complex scientific problem which should be studied and explored by scientists and medical experts.

“We have a basic consensus with WHO. Traceability is a scientific issue, and scientists should carry out international scientific research and cooperation on a global scale,” said Zhao.

anuncement comes a day after United States informed Congress about formal withdrawal from WHO over an alleged conspiracy with China to conceal information on virus outbreak. spokesperson lashed out at US for pulling out from organisation, calling it “just ar example of unilateralism”.

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'Many possibilities of virus source'

Referring to Chinese President Xi Jinping address at World Health Assembly, Zhao said that Beijing continues to support scientists from all over world to carry out global scientific research on source and spread of viruses. He anunced that China and WHO have maintained communication and cooperation since outbreak experts from both sides will work out scope of work and mandate of group led by WHO. 

“Ryan, executive director of WHO's emergency planning, said that virus tracing is very complicated. As process progresses, it is necessary to be open to many possibilities of virus source,” said Zhao.

On May 18, Xi had told WHA that China supports a comprehensive review of global response to pandemic led by UN health ncy but only after coronavirus is brought under control. 66-year-old leader had asserted that China has been open and transparent about virus outbreak from beginning and will support a probe if it is conducted in an objective and impartial manner.

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