China backs Covid-19 probe, but asks to wait till virus contained

Despite supporting the calls for an investigation into the handling of the Covid-19 pandemic at a key summit Monday, Chinese President Xi Jinping insisted that any inquiry should wait until the virus is contained.

Xi spoke at the World Health Assembly after more than 110 countries backed a resolution calling for an "impartial, independent and comprehensive evaluation" of the "international health response to Covid-19."

Although a number of countries, including the US, have accused China of withholding information about the virus, the European Union-drafted resolution, driven by calls for an inquiry from Australia aimed at China, does not single out China or any other country.

While the draft resolution has been watered down from Australia's original proposal, Australian government sources think the wording is "strong enough to ensure" a "proper and thorough investigation." 

So far, the draft resolution listed more than 110 nations that had signaled their support. It would require the vote of two-thirds of the 194-member assembly to pass.

The Chinese president defended his country, saying Beijing had acted transparently about the origins of the virus, which was first detected late last year in the central Chinese city of Wuhan.

"All along we have acted with openness, transparency and responsibility, we have provided information to the WHO and relevant countries in the most timely fashion, we have released the genome sequence at the earliest possible time, we have shared control and treatment experiences with the world without reservation, we have done everything in our power to support and assist countries in need," Xi told the assembly via video conference.

Earlier on Monday Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian echoed Xi's support for an investigation in the virus' origins, but argued that the draft plans are "a totally different thing from what's been called an 'independent international inquiry."

The outbreak originated in the Chinese city of Wuhan in November before spreading to other countries, causing swaths of the global economy to shut down. Experts have said they think the virus originated in a wet market, where animals are slaughtered and sold among fresh produce.

The fallout from the crisis has caused conflict within WHO. The US has pulled its funding for the agency, accusing it of being too soft on China and accepting its misinformation as the disease began to spread.

(Source: CNN)