Tracing the origin of Covid-19, a complex issue ofscience, "should and can only be undertaken by scientists around the worldthrough joint research", the Chinese ambassador to Iran wrote in anopinion piece published recently, warning against Washington's efforts topoliticize this process.
The reaction from the Chinese ambassador came in thebackdrop of a report by the US intelligence community (IC) on the origins ofCovid-19.
The IC had issued a two-page, unclassified assessment ofits efforts, offering "key takeaways" after "examining allavailable intelligence reporting and other information".
"Essentially, it is a completely mendacious reportmade up for political purposes and there is no scientific basis or credibilityin it, which does no good for the international anti-pandemic efforts,"Xinhua news agency quoted Chang as saying in the article.
Calling a report jointly released by Chinese and WHOexperts earlier this year as "a good foundation for internationalcooperation on origins tracing," the ambassador said that China has"been supporting science-based efforts on origins tracing, and will continueto stay actively engaged."
Meanwhile, "we firmly oppose attempts to politicizethis issue," he added.
In the article, he also criticized the US for "notbeing transparent, responsible and cooperative on this issue," saying it"hypes up the lab-leak theory while shying away from tracing the origin athome."
Noting that Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi underscoredrecently his staunch opposition to using the issue of Covid-19 origin tracingas a pretext to suppress and contain China, Chang said, "the Chinese sideappreciates the just position of the Iranian side."
China will continue to work with friendly countriesincluding Iran and the international community to resist the setbacks ofpoliticising origin tracing and bring it back to the right track of scientificcooperation, making contributions to the final victory against the pandemic, headded.