At the World Health Assembly(WHA) by WHO, India and 120 countries supported a resolution seeking an independent investigation into the novel coronavirus pandemic which started from Wuhan, China late last year. the resolution, drafted by the EU and pushed by Australia, was finally agreed upon by China, owing to immense international pressure.
Besides a scientific investigation into the origins of the virus, the resolution also calls for an “impartial, independent, and comprehensive” evaluation into the international response to the corona pandemic.
The WHA is the decision-making body of the World Health Organisation. The annual meeting, being held virtually on Monday and Tuesday, is attended by delegations from all WHO Member States and focuses on a specific health agenda prepared by the Executive Board. India will take over the chairmanship of the EB next week. India’s health minister, Dr. Harsh Vardhan will address the WHA.
China also pledged $2 billion in assistance to the WHO. President Xi Jinping told the WHA that China had acted with ‘openness, transparency and responsibility’ when the disease, which has impacted millions of people across the world, first broke out. He also said that Beijing supported calls for a comprehensive review of the global response but felt this exercise should be carried out after the world gets a grip on the situation.
“China supports the idea of a comprehensive review of the global response to COVID-19 after it is brought under control, to sum up experience and address deficiencies,” President Xi told the WHA.
