China says it has been ‘open towards cooperation with US’ on coronavirus crisis
- Foreign ministry spokesman says health authorities from both sides have been exchanging information
- It follows senior White House official Larry Kudlow’s remarks that Washington is ‘disappointed in the lack of transparency’
Foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said health authorities from both sides were in close communication and exchanging information on the epidemic.
“China has been active and open towards cooperation with the US,” Geng told a press conference conducted via social media app WeChat – a special arrangement to avoid a group gathering because of the outbreak.
“The Chinese and American departments of disease control, medical research, development and technology, as well as scientists, have been engaging in various forms of exchanges,” Geng said. “We welcome foreign experts’ participation in the China-WHO joint mission, including those from the US.”
He said China would continue working with the international community, including the US, to tackle the epidemic and protect global health security.
The new coronavirus, which causes a disease now officially known as Covid-19, has killed more than 1,300 people and infected over 63,000 since the outbreak began in central China in December, and it has spread to more than 20 countries.