(MENAFN) China has called on the World Health Organization (WHO) to launch a new investigation into the origins of Covid-19, rejecting claims made by the United States that the virus had escaped from a high-security virology lab in Wuhan. The WHO chief, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, had previously urged China and other nations to be transparent in sharing data regarding the genesis of the health crisis.

In response to these comments, Mao Ning, a spokesperson for China's Foreign Ministry, insisted that China has already shared more data and research findings than any other country and has contributed the most to origins-tracing. Mao added that tracing the origins of the virus is a matter of science and can only be conducted jointly by scientists around the world.

Mao further criticized the US government for politicizing, weaponizing, and instrumentalizing the issue and claimed that such actions have hindered efforts to understand the origins of the virus. The comments from China highlight the continuing debate and controversy surrounding the origin of the pandemic.

The WHO's investigation into the origins of Covid-19 has faced criticism from some quarters, with questions raised about the level of access provided to investigators by China. The organization's report, released in March 2021, concluded that the virus most likely originated in animals before jumping to humans, but the exact origins remain unclear.

As the pandemic continues to impact people's lives around the world, understanding the origins of the virus remains a critical issue. The comments from China underscore the need for continued cooperation and transparency in investigating the origins of the pandemic.

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