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SYDNEY — The world’s nations should do all they’ll to grasp the origins of COVID-19, Australia’s Prime Minister Scott Morrison stated on Saturday, feedback that would worsen tensions with China.
Addressing the United Nations Normal Meeting, Morrison stated an inquiry into the roots of the virus would reduce the specter of one other international pandemic.
“This virus has inflicted a calamity on our world and its peoples. We should do all we are able to to grasp what occurred for no different objective than to stop it from occurring once more,” Morrison stated by way of a teleconference video hyperlink.
“There’s a clear mandate to establish the zoonotic supply of the COVID-19 virus and the way it was transmitted to people.”
Morrison’s feedback got here after comparable feedback by the prime minister earlier within the 12 months soured ties between Australia and China.
At the moment, he led international calls for for an inquiry into the origins of COVID-19. China strongly rebuffed that transfer, with Beijing’s ambassador to Canberra warning the inquiry calls might bitter commerce ties.