Spokesperson of China's Foreign Ministry Zhao Lijian speaks at a daily press briefing. (Photo: China's Foreign Ministry)
China has never made comments saying France’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic was inadequate, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said while clarifying the Chinese embassy in France’s comments as being a timely response to false accusations about China and its cooperation with France.
Recently, some Western countries, media outlets and politicians have circulated false information, stigmatized China, and made irresponsible remarks about the cooperation between China and France in combating COVID-19, and the Chinese embassy and consulate made a timely response to these false accusations, Zhao Lijian, spokesperson of China’s Foreign Ministry, said at Wednesday’s media briefing.
“The timely response was to clarify the truth and China’s stance and safeguard global cooperation on combating COVID-19, and we hope the French side can clear up the misunderstanding. China has never made comments claiming that France’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic was inadequate,” Zhao said.
Zhao’s remarks came after reports said France had summoned the Chinese ambassador to protest a string of controversial comments made by the embassy on the coronavirus.
China and France have been jointly combating COVID-19 since its outbreak, which fully demonstrates the high quality of the bilateral relations and deep, friendly ties between people of the two countries, Zhao said.
China has hailed a series of measures taken by France, which has made positive achievements, and has supported France in making positive measures based on its national conditions. China believes that France will soon be able to defeat the COVID-19, Zhao said.
Global Times
