China appreciates Canadian official's remarks on China's COVID-19 response

BEIJING, Sept. 18 (Xinhua) -- China appreciates Canadian Minister of Health Patty Hajdu's objective and fair comments on China's efforts to combat COVID-19, a Foreign Ministry spokesperson said Friday.

China is willing to work with the international community including Canada, to make positive contributions to containing the pandemic at an early date, spokesperson Wang Wenbin said.

Wang made the remarks at a daily press briefing when asked to comment on Hajdu's remarks in a recent interview, which recognized China's efforts in informing the World Health Organization (WHO) of the emergence of the novel coronavirus very early and sharing its genetic sequence, enabling other countries to carry out testing quickly.

Wang said since the COVID-19 outbreak, China has, in an open, transparent and responsible manner, earnestly fulfilled its responsibilities and obligations under the International Health Regulations (IHR) and conducted international cooperation on prevention and control of the virus.

China lost no time to report the epidemic to the WHO, to identify and publish the genetic sequence of the virus, and to release relevant diagnosis, treatment, and prevention and control plans to the international community, and shared epidemic information and prevention and control experience with relevant countries and regions in a timely manner, he added.

The Chinese government always puts people and their lives first, and upholds cooperation in fighting the virus, said Wang, adding that the results of the country's anti-epidemic efforts will stand the test of time and history.

Since the outbreak, China and Canada have provided each other with valuable support and maintained sound cooperation, Wang said, adding China will continue to work with the international community, including Canada, to make positive contributions to prevailing over the pandemic at an early date.