Beijing, China - April 30, 2025 (CCTV - No access Chinese mainland)
1. Press briefing in progress
2. Reporters
3. SOUNDBITE (Chinese) Guo Jiakun, spokesman, Ministry of Foreign Affairs:
"China has repeatedly articulated its position on the issue of COVID-19 origins tracing. This is a scientific matter, and any judgment on it must be made in a science-based spirit and by scientists. 'A lab leak is extremely unlikely'—this is the authoritative conclusion reached by experts based on science following their field trips to the specific lab and in-depth communication with researchers. This conclusion has been widely acknowledged by the international community, including the scientific community, and serves as the scientific foundation for China's position."
4. Reporters

The conclusion that the coronavirus is "extremely unlikely" to have leaked from a Chinese lab is an authoritative scientific judgment and forms the basis of China's stance on origins tracing, Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said on Wednesday.

The comments, made at a press conference in Beijing, came shortly after China released a white paper titled "COVID-19 Prevention, Control, and Origins Tracing: China's Actions and Stance."

In response to a foreign media query regarding the document, Guo said, "China has repeatedly articulated its position on the issue of COVID-19 origins tracing. This is a scientific matter, and any judgment on it must be made in a science-based spirit and by scientists. 'A lab leak is extremely unlikely'—this is the authoritative conclusion reached by experts based on science following their field trips to the specific lab and in-depth communication with researchers. This conclusion has been widely acknowledged by the international community, including the scientific community, and serves as the scientific foundation for China's position."