The United States and China have feuded over the World Health Organization’s role in battling the novel coronavirus, with President Donald Trump criticizing the WHO and Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping
Chinese President Xi Jinping has pledged an additional $2 billion to battle the novel coronavirus over the next two years while the United States doubled down on its criticism of the World Health Organization at its annual gathering Monday.
« China will provide $2 billion over two years to help with COVID-19 response and with economic and social development in affected countries, especially developing countries, » Xi said at a virtual session for the 73rd World Health Assembly.
He also said he supported a « comprehensive review » of the world’s handling of the coronavirus « after it is brought under control. »
Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar represented the U. S. in place of President Donald Trump and condemned the WHO’s handling of the coronavirus outbreak.
« There was a failure by this organization to obtain the information that the world needed, and that failure cost many lives, » he said.
« We saw that WHO failed at its core mission of information sharing and transparency when member states do not act in good faith, » Azar added, referring to China.
