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G7 singles out China, calls for renewed Covid-19 origin search and respect for rights in Hong Kong, Xinjiang
- Group of Seven leaders issue their strongest rebuke of Beijing since the violent Tiananmen Square crackdown and issue an appeal to support democratic societies
- White House says the G7 is concerned by the use of all forms of forced labour in global supply chains
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In its strongest rebuke of China since the Tiananmen Square crackdown more than 30 years ago, the G7 has called for a fresh investigation into the origins of the coronavirus pandemic and urged China to “respect human rights and fundamental freedoms” in Hong Kong and Xinjiang.
The Group of 7 leaders ended talks in Cornwall, on the southwest coast of England, on Sunday with direct and indirect references to China, highlighting the need to support democratic societies and to strengthen supply chains and support development in crucial technologies.
They supported a new investigation into the origins of Covid-19, which was first detected in the central Chinese city of Wuhan. “We also call for a timely, transparent, expert-led and science-based WHO-convened phase 2 Covid-19 origins study including, as recommended by the experts’ report, in China,” the statement read, referring to the World Health Organization.
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Britain, the European Union and the United States all made similar calls before the summit.
The group called on China “to respect human rights and fundamental freedoms, especially in relation to Xinjiang and those rights, freedoms and high degree of autonomy for Hong Kong enshrined in the Sino-British Joint Declaration and the Basic Law”.
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The statement underlined “the importance of maintaining a free and open Indo-Pacific, which is inclusive and based on the rule of law”.
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