BEIJING - China stands ready to enhance cooperation with the World Health Organisation to advance global tracing efforts and contribute its share in the fight against the pandemic.

READ MORE: WHO reiterates novel coronavirus is 'natural in origin'

Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin made the remarks on Thursday when being asked about a possible trip to China by COVID-19 investigators from the WHO to China in January as reported by the media.

Cooperation between China and WHO is advancing in a steady way.

 Wang Wenbin, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson

"China has been open, transparent and responsible and is among the first countries to cooperate with the WHO," Wang said.

So far, the WHO has sent two groups of experts to China, one each in February and July, for investigations into COVID-19.

According to Wang, while the Chinese experts have been actively sharing China's progress in origin tracing with the WHO and international experts through virtual meetings, the WHO has also updated China on its latest research progress.

"Cooperation between China and WHO is advancing in a steady way," Wang added.

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Meanwhile, Wang also said an accusation made by the United States about China failing to appear at a virtual senior-level meeting "is not right and irresponsible".

He made the remark after Admiral Phil Davidson, the commander for US Indo-Pacific Command, said in a statement on Wednesday that China refused to show up in meetings slated for this week related to the Military Maritime Consultative Agreement focused on maritime safety.