China will continue to work with WHO to seek COVID-19 origins – premier

(FILE PHOTO) Chinese Premier Li Keqiang speaks during a press conference after the closing session of the National People’s Congress in Beijing’s Great Hall of the People on Friday, March 15, 2019. (AP File Photo/Ng Han Guan)

BEIJING — Chinese Premier Li Keqiang said Thursday the country would continue to work with the World Health Organization (WHO) in trying to find the origins of COVID-19, the respiratory ailment caused by the new coronavirus SARS-CoV-2.

Li issued the statement in response to a question on US criticism that it was not transparent in sharing data on early cases with a WHO investigation earlier this year.

Li, speaking on Thursday at a media briefing at the end of China’s annual session of parliament, said China had “acted in a fact-based manner and with an open, transparent and cooperative approach.”