Lab could not create virus

Hu Yu, president of Wuhan Union Hospital of China, member of the CPPCC National Committee

Tracing the origin of the virus is a serious scientific problem that should be tackled by scientists and medical experts. Wuhan was the first place to report the COVID-19 outbreak, but that does not necessarily mean it is its place of origin. AIDS was first reported in the US, but that surely did not mean it originated in the US. The virus is a common enemy of mankind, and scientists should join forces to find more evidence and pinpoint its exact origin.

The P4 lab is dedicated to studying the virus, and it does not have the ability to create a new virus. It was built in accordance with strict international standards, with rigorous management and protection. We have never heard of anyone from the lab being infected with COVID-19. Moreover, more than 70 foreign experts interacted with the Wuhan Institute of Virology last year. It is an institute that operates under the principles of sharing, open and internationalized management.