Beijing, China - March 26, 2020 (CCTV - No access Chinese mainland)
1. Various of reporters
2. SOUNDBITE (Chinese) Geng Shuang, spokesman, China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs:
"The Chinese side has pointed out repeatedly that tracing the origins of the novel coronavirus is a complicated science issue and it requires scientific and professional opinions. The World Health Organization (WHO) and the international community explicitly oppose to linking viruses with a specific country or region and oppose stigmatization. And the WHO and the international community have spoken highly of China's epidemic control efforts. However, this U.S. politician deliberately runs against the international consensus and continues to stigmatize China, defame and smear China's epidemic control efforts, hoping to divert attention and deflect responsibility. This showed his malicious intentions."
3. Press conference in progress
4. SOUNDBITE (Chinese) Geng Shuang, spokesman, China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs:
"It must be noted that the current outbreak of the novel coronavirus is affecting the whole world, and the situation in the United States is worsening. If a politician has not yet used his power to prevent and control the epidemic in his own country, and has not yet helped to create an atmosphere for international cooperation in the fight against the pandemic, but instead repeatedly stirred up international political disputes and undermined international cooperation in the fight against the pandemic, such a politician has no moral."
5. Press conference in progress
6. SOUNDBITE (Chinese) Geng Shuang, spokesman, China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs:
"We urge this U.S. politician not to go further on the wrong road. Otherwise, it could only further expose his hypocrisy and ill intentions, which will arouse more indignation and opposition of the Chinese people and people around the world."
7. Reporters at press conference

Chinese Foreign Ministry condemned the U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo's reference to the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) as "Wuhan virus", saying it showed his ill intentions.

Pompeo made such a reference again while criticizing China's political system at the press conference following the G7 video meeting on Wednesday.

The origins of the novel coronavirus are a science issue, Geng Shuang, a spokesman for Chinese Foreign Ministry, told the press on Thursday.

"The Chinese side has pointed out repeatedly that tracing the origins of the novel coronavirus is a complicated science issue and it requires scientific and professional opinions. The World Health Organization (WHO) and the international community explicitly oppose to linking viruses with a specific country or region and oppose stigmatization. And the WHO and the international community have spoken highly of China's epidemic control efforts. However, this U.S. politician deliberately runs against the international consensus and continues to stigmatize China, defame and smear China's epidemic control efforts, hoping to divert attention and deflect responsibility. This showed his malicious intentions," said Geng.

Geng also said that Pompeo's action does no good for the international cooperation in COVID-19 prevention and control as the pandemic has taken footholds in many places around the world.

"It must be noted that the current outbreak of the novel coronavirus is affecting the whole world, and the situation in the United States is worsening. If a politician has not yet used his power to prevent and control the epidemic in his own country, and has not yet helped to create an atmosphere for international cooperation in the fight against the pandemic, but instead repeatedly stirred up international political disputes and undermined international cooperation in the fight against the pandemic, such a politician has no moral," said Geng.

People all over the world have seen clearly that the Chinese people gained independence, freedom and liberation, as well as remarkable achievements in building the country under the leadership of the Communist Party of China (CPC), Geng said.

It is under the CPC's leadership that Chinese people are united as one, have responded quickly, and achieved positive results in the battle against the virus, earning precious time for and making significant contributions to the world, which is an evident fact, said Geng.

"We urge this U.S. politician not to go further on the wrong road. Otherwise, it could only further expose his hypocrisy and ill intentions, which will arouse more indignation and opposition of the Chinese people and people around the world," said Geng.