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A year after the COVID-19 outbreak began, international experts are due to visit China this week for a highly politicized visit to explain the origins of the pandemic coronavirus that emerged in the country’s central Wuhan in late 2019.
The mission is accompanied by delays and politics: allegations of concealment, conspiracy and anxiety about Beijing’s attempt to tarnish its reputation.
Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying told reporters Wednesday that the two sides were continuing talks on “a specific date and concrete plans for the expert group’s visit.”
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“It just came to our attention then. For the international team of experts to work smoothly in China, we must carry out the necessary procedures and prepare accordingly,” said Hua Chunying.
According to her, the country “is doing everything possible to create good conditions for an international group of experts to come to China.”
The WHO chief told reporters on Tuesday that Beijing had not yet given final permission to the team, adding that it was “very disappointed with the news.” This is a rare reproach from China by a United Nations agency.
Chinese officials this week declined to confirm the exact date of the trip and provide details about the visit. This shows that the mission of the experts remains a particularly sensitive subject.
Earlier, the WHO said China allowed a team of 10 to arrive.
Hua Chunying said China “attaches great importance to the visit and is actively cooperating with WHO.”
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