China on Wednesday welcomed U.S. strategic scholars' statement calling for collective efforts to fight against COVID-19 and refuted their accusation against China of concealing the COVID-19 situation and lacking transparency at the early stage of the epidemic.
Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian made the comments at a routine press briefing when answering a relevant question.
Nearly 100 U.S. strategy researchers recently issued a statement calling on the United States and China to strengthen cooperation in fighting COVID-19, saying that this is essential to prevent the spread of the epidemic worldwide.
"This is consistent with the positive and rational voice of people with vision in China, the United States and the international community. We appreciate and welcome this," the spokesperson said.
He noted that leaders of the two countries have reached important consensus in strengthening cooperation in fighting the epidemic, health departments and experts of the two countries have been in close contacts, Chinese provinces, cities and enterprises have been providing medical supplies to the United States, China is also facilitating procurement of medical supplies by U.S. government and enterprises in China.
The virus, knowing no borders or races, is a common challenge to all human beings, he said, adding that the international community can only win by forming a joint force.
"China is willing to uphold the vision of a community with a shared future for mankind and continue to work with all countries including the United States to enhance cooperation in fighting the pandemic and jointly safeguard global public health security," he added.
Zhao pointed out that since the pandemic broke out, China has always taken an open, transparent and responsible approach, reporting the outbreak to the World Health Organization, sharing genome sequence of the virus, conducting international cooperation between epidemic control experts and providing help to other countries at the earliest time possible.
"These basic facts have been recognized and praised by the international community. No one can deny or obliterate them," he said.
Noting the fight against COVID-19 provides a platform for China and the United States to strengthen cooperation, Zhao said it is hoped that the United States will work with China to strengthen cooperation in anti-epidemic and other areas, develop a China-U.S. relationship featuring non-confrontation, non-conflict, mutual respect and win-win cooperation, and deliver more benefits to the people of China, United States and the world.
