WORLD Health Organisation (WHO) chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus and Chinese Premier Li Keqiang discussed the Covid-19 pandemic, including investigation on the origins of the virus, in Beijing, China, yesterday.

“We discussed #Covid-19 and the need for an aggressive effort on #VaccineEquity to vaccinate 70% of all populations this year. Solidarity is key to ensuring access and affordability of vaccines,” he tweeted, as reported by Anadolu Agency.

Tedros has, time and again, reiterated that vaccine inequity is the biggest obstacle in ending the pandemic.

“We discussed the need for stronger collaboration on #Covid-19 virus origins, rooted in evidence and science. I welcome his (Li) support to strengthen WHO and discussion on a #PandemicAccord to advance global preparedness.”

The exact origin of the coronavirus, which has killed almost six million people worldwide, remains a mystery.

While there are theories that it leaked from a lab in Wuhan, where Covid-19 was first detected in late 2019, there is not enough scientific proof to back that claim.

China has also repeatedly denied the allegations.

According to Xinhua, Li – who welcomed Tedros at the opening ceremony of the Winter Olympics – said China will continue to support WHO in fighting the coronavirus and safeguarding human health.

He called for cooperation, solidarity and more understanding among members of the international community to defeat the pandemic.

A WHO team of international experts, which visited Wuhan in January last year, concluded that the virus is most likely transferred from bats to humans, and termed the lab leak theory “extremely unlikely”.

In August, a new investigation team was formed, following criticism from China that the March study was “politicised”. – Bernama, February 6, 2022.