The United States and 13 other countries have condemned the findings of a recent World Health Organization (WHO) visit to China. They have demanded an additional investigation, claiming that China denied WHO scientists full access to sites and to data.
WHO says it is unlikely that the deadly virus came from a Chinese laboratory in Wuhan and is exploring the possibility that it originated elsewhere in the world before causing an outbreak in China.
Denmark, Norway, Great Britain, Australia, Canada and Japan are among the countries to have joined the US protest at WHO’s handling of the probe.
Switzerland will not be joining their ranks. “We were informed about the statement by the US. Switzerland has decided not to participate in this statement,” the Swiss foreign ministry told the news agency Keystone-SDA.
This confirms an article in the Neue Zürcher Zeitung newspaper on Thursday morning.
The foreign ministry did not want to comment on speculation on whether Beijing obstructed the WHO investigation. Switzerland has decided to adopt a neutral stance as the search for more scientific information continues.
More
More
What Switzerland can do about the US-China rivalry
This content was published on
Rising tensions between the two powers pose a challenge to smaller countries on the sidelines that want to avoid getting caught in the middle.
Should raw milk sales be banned or should consumers decide?
Swiss food regulations do not allow raw milk to be sold for direct consumption. However, a loophole allows 400 raw milk vending machines to do just that.
COP29: Swiss NGOs call for strong financial support
This content was published on
Ahead of COP29, Swiss NGOs call for wealthy nations to pay $1,000 billion a year to help other countries solve climate problems.
Real Swiss wages likely to rise in 2025, says UBS bank
This content was published on
Higher wages and falling inflation are likely to boost Swiss purchasing power, which will be dragged back by rising health premiums.
This content was published on
Switzerland has a new tectonic map at a scale of 1:500,000, containing updates to geometry, distribution and nomenclature of the tectonic units.
This content was published on
Swiss artist Daniel Spoerri, known for his artworks using leftover food with dirty cutlery and crockery, has passed away in Vienna at the age of 94.
Climate change tipped to alter Swiss avalanche patterns by 2100
This content was published on
Climate change is expected to result in fewer avalanches overall in Switzerland but to increase the danger of wet snow avalanches by 2100.
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.
Read more
More
The Swiss textile machinery industry has a China dilemma
This content was published on
Amid allegations of forced labour in Xinjiang, the Swiss textile machinery sector faces thorny questions about its ties to and reliance on China.
Number of Covid-19 vaccinations rises in Switzerland
This content was published on
The number of Covid-19 vaccines administered in Switzerland from March has risen to an average of 23,807 a day. That’s up 17% on last week.
Switzerland to remember Covid victims in virtual candlelight vigil
This content was published on
Starting Saturday, the Swiss will be able to light a candle on the Internet and “flood the map” of the country “with a sea of lights”.
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.