China Also Wants to Know Origins of COVID-19, Says Premier Li Keqiang
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – China, too, wants to know where the COVID-19 virus came from, said Chinese Premier Li Keqiang, adding that knowing the origins of the coronavirus would help to effectively contain it.
He, however, noted that tracing the virus' origin is a complex process, and needed continuous research and close cooperation among countries.
“China has acted in an open, transparent and cooperative manner,” he told a press conference in Beijing on Thursday, The Star reported.
Li was responding to a question in connection with an allegation that China was not transparent with the World Health Organization (WHO) investigating team on a mission to Wuhan in January.
The Chinese city in the Hubei province was where the coronavirus was first detected in late 2019.
Li pointed out that they maintained close communications with WHO and would support its missions pertaining to COVID-19 in the country.
The press conference was conducted soon after the closing ceremony of the annual Two Sessions, as the country's parliament meeting is dubbed.
Noting that the virus is still spreading globally, Li said in addition to tracing the origins of the virus, another urgent task would be on preventive measures, which included vaccination.
“COVID-19 is the common enemy of mankind. We hope the world could come together to fight the virus.
“I hope next year, we will be able to meet face-to-face,” he added.
The press conference was held via video conference with Li speaking at the Great Hall of the People, where the Two Sessions was held, while the media was at the media centre some 10km away.
Li, however, did not answer a question on whether or not China would provide the data requested by WHO investigators.
It was reported that the team investigating the origins of the virus in China had asked for raw data of health records of patients with symptoms similar to COVID-19 from October to December 2019.