The war of words between the US and China over the origins of the deadly coronavirus has extended to the WHO as Chinese President Xi Jinping praised its role in advancing global battle against COVID-19 amid his American counterpart Donald Trump's criticism that the UN health agency sided with Beijing and people are unhappy with its position.
President Xi on Thursday appreciated the World Health Organisation (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus' efforts to advance the global battle against the COVID-19 pandemic.
In a reply letter to Ghebreyesus, Xi said China will continue to provide support for the international community in combating the coronavirus disease.
Under Ghebreyesus' leadership, the WHO has been actively advancing global cooperation against the contagious illness and gained wide recognition from the international community, Xi said.
China, he added, will continue to firmly support Ghebreyesus and the WHO in playing an active and leading role in the global fight against the pandemic.
China has also contributed USD 20 million to WHO for its fight against COVID-19 in different countries.
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Xi's praise of WHO and Ghebreyesus' leadership came after Trump said the UN health body has "very much sided" with China on the coronavirus crisis and claimed that many are unhappy with the "very unfair" praise by the agency on Beijing's handling of the COVID-19 outbreak in the country.
President Trump was responding to a question on allegations by Republican Senator Marco Rubio that the WHO showed "favouritism" to China where the disease originated.
Congressman Michael McCaul, ranking member on the House Foreign Relations Committee, has questioned the integrity of the WHO's Director-General, saying "that there were several red flags in his past with respect to his relationship with China."
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