SCIO press conference on China's study of origins of SARS-CoV-2
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E-mail China.org.cn, April 14, 2023
Shou Xiaoli:
The last question, please.
Phoenix TV:
We have noticed that the WHO recently published opinion articles expressing their hope that China can share any data related to the origins of SARS-CoV-2 as soon as possible. How does China plan to share this data in cooperation with the WHO, and are there any follow-up plans? Thank you.
Zhou Lei:
Thank you very much for your questions. Actually, we have also noticed the opinion articles you mentioned and are paying attention to this issue. In fact, we have consistently maintained close cooperation and communication with the WHO. For example, during the first phase of the joint origin tracing studies, we responded to the appeal of the World Health Assembly and invited the WHO, including the international experts they selected, to come to China and Wuhan to carry out joint origin tracing, which itself is a giant step we have taken. In addition, after completing the first phase of the joint studies, as our experts mentioned just now, we immediately shared our research results with the SAGO, an expert team under the WHO, and engaged in in-depth and comprehensive exchanges with them. We shared the information as early as possible. Moreover, we published papers presenting all our research results in many science journals to share with our international peers. I believe that we will continue to do things like that in the future. Since 2020, we, with WHO experts and joint origin tracing researchers, have not only worked together in Wuhan but also held many video conferences. During the pandemic, as we could not have in-person meetings, we communicated via emails and video conferences. Our researcher Yang Yungui, who participated in the first phase of the joint studies, also joined the SAGO later. From the perspective of Chinese scientists, we are very open and transparent, adhering to a science-based approach. Our government is very supportive and has invested a great deal of personnel, materials, and funds in conducting origin tracing research and collecting large amounts of data. Without this support, it would not be possible for us to get such good results to share with our international peers. The science journals in which we published our papers are very influential, which is helpful for international origin tracing efforts. I believe that we will continue to maintain close cooperation and communication with the WHO, our international peers, and scientists who have consistently taken a science-based approach for the origin tracing. We will continue to promptly share our latest research results and data on origin tracing. Thank you.
Shou Xiaoli:
Thank you to all the speakers and friends from the media. Today's briefing is now concluded. See you.
Translated and edited by Zhu Bochen, Wang Wei, Zhou Jing, Huang Shan, Gong Yingchun, Li Huiru, Zhang Jiaqi, Liu Sitong, Zhang Rui, Zhang Junmian, Duan Yaying, Xu Xiaoxuan, Xu Kailin, David Ball, Tom Arnsten, and Jay Birbeck. In case of any discrepancy between the English and Chinese texts, the Chinese version is deemed to prevail.
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