Deng Xijun, Chinese ambassador to ASEAN, urged countries to cease politically motivated COVID-19 origin-tracing and called for international cooperation to fight against the virus in an opinion piece published in the Jakarta Post on Aug 21.

In this article, Deng noted China has taken a scientific approach to global cooperation in science-based origin-tracing. WHO experts were invited twice to China for research, and China's openness and transparency during the research process were fully affirmed by international experts, the outcome of which is the scientific and authoritative WHO-China joint study report released in March this year that forms the basis for the next stage of tracing.

"China's positon on global origin-tracing is consistent and clear-cut" Deng said, adding "China has all along supported and will continue to take part in science-based origin-tracing efforts".

Yet in the meantime, Deng also pointed out certain countries have been keen to take part in politically motivated origin-tracing. "They have turned a blind eye to science-based and authoritative conclusions and spread false information and lies to distort the positions of other countries," he said.

Deng stressed origin-tracing is a matter of science, and no country has the right to put its own political interests above people's lives, nor should a matter of science be politicized for the purpose of slandering and attacking others.

He called for global origin-tracing cooperation and noted "origin-tracing cooperation must be based on science and politicization must be firmly rejected".

Deng said COVID-19 is still ravaging our global village and it will not be the last public health emergency in the world.

"It is of paramount importance for the international community to be guided by the vision of building a global community with a shared future, reject political manipulation and jointly tackle challenges for the benefit of all."