BEIJING -- The report on the WHO-convened global study of COVID-19 origins by a WHO-China joint team is based on existing data and evidence and can stand the test of history, a senior Chinese expert said Wednesday.

China was the first country to report COVID-19 cases, so the global tracing of virus origins was first conducted here in China, said Liang Wannian, team leader from the Chinese side of the joint expert team.

Speaking at a press briefing by the Chinese expert members of the joint study, Liang noted that origin tracing of the virus is a continuous work.

He added that further tracing of COVID-19 origins will be carried out around the globe, based on the findings of the study in China.

Global study on COVID-19 origins finds lab origin 'extremely unlikely'

The WHO-China joint team on the global study of the origins of COVID-19 found that introduction through a laboratory incident is "extremely unlikely," according to a senior Chinese expert of the joint team Wednesday.

Experts from the WHO and China jointly conducted the research in China and made an assessment of the likelihood of possible pathways, according to Liang Wannian, head of the Chinese side of the joint team, at a press briefing by Chinese members of the study.

According to a report on the China Part of the study, COVID-19 introduction through an intermediate host is "likely to very likely," introduction through cold/food chain products is "possible," and introduction through a laboratory incident is "extremely unlikely," Liang said.