Peter Ben Embarek (center), Marion Koopmans (right) and other members of the World Health Organization (WHO) team investigating the origins of the coronavirus, are seen on a balcony at the Wuhan Hilton Optics Valley Hotel in Wuhan, Central China’s Hubei Province. Photo: AFP
China’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin urged other countries and regions undertake similar studies to the World Health Organization’s virus origins study in Wuhan, as he commented on an open letter from a group of foreign scientists that called for a “new probe” of the coronavirus, during a routine press conference on Friday.
The scientists involved in the so-called open letter on a “new probe” following the WHO’s study in Wuhan know very well whether the letter was scientific and professional advice for coronavirus origins research, or a presumption of guilt and politicization, Wang said, saying it is imperative and urgent to have similar studies in other countries and regions on tracing the virus’ origins after Wuhan.
Some people disregard scientific facts, politicize the coronavirus origins issue, misinterpret the scientific conclusions of the WHO experts team, and advocate “presumption of guilt” in investigations involving specific countries; this is not conducive to international cooperation in fighting the epidemic, Wang said.
More than 20 scientists called for a new probe in an open letter on Thursday, claiming that the WHO team in Wuhan had “insufficient access” to data to adequately investigate possible sources of the new coronavirus, including whether it slipped out from a laboratory, the Wall Street Journal reported.
“The scientists involved in the so-called open letter know very well whether the letter was advice on coronavirus origins based on scientific and professional attitude or presumption of guilt and politicization,” Wang said.
The WHO experts’ work in Wuhan this February was part of global scientific research on the origins of the novel coronavirus.
The list of the WHO expert team came entirely from the WHO; it was independent and scientific. The requirement for on-site visits was independently proposed by the expert team, the interview subjects and contents were independently determined by the expert team on the spot, and the report was drafted by the expert team, Wang said.
WHO-China cooperation was a scientific task carried out by both Chinese and foreign experts based on scientific research and facts. The two sides had candid exchanges and the conclusion reflected the consensus of experts; it was objective, scientific and authoritative, Wang said.
Wang said that China hopes that other countries and regions will adopt the same attitude as China and carry out research on the coronavirus’ origins with the WHO.
Global Times
