Thank you. Thank you to be with you again. We are delighted to have you on our programme at this difficult time. Let me start, actually, with a very simple, direct question do you accept that covid 19 has its origins in china . It was first discovered in wuhan, but i cant say it originated from wuhan. You know, according to many information, many reports, including bbc, it can be everywhere and anywhere. You know, it can be in aircraft carriers. It can be found even in the submarine and it can be found in some countries, which have very little connection with china. And also, it can be found in the group of people who have never been to china. So i couldnt say we cannot say its originated from china. Ambassador, let me stop you there, because im a little confused by that answer. I mean, clearly, it is a new virus. It originated somewhere, it crossed, it seems, according to all of the immunologists and the virologists, it crossed from animals to humans, and there was a first case and th
Welcomed to hardtalk. Im stephen sackur. As the global effort to control covid 19 continues, so arguments about culpability for the spread of the virus intensify. And at the heart of the story, china, where the outbreak began. Did the Chinese Governments impulse to cover up the truth put the world in danger, or did beijing respond with admirable determination . My guest today is chinas ambassador in london, liu xiaoming. Is china the villain or the hero of this pandemic . Ambassador liu xiaoming, welcome to hardtalk. Thank you. Thank you to be with you again. We are delighted to have you on this programme at this difficult time. Let me start, actually, with a very simple, direct question. Do you accept that covid 19 has its origins in china . It was first discovered in wuhan, but i cant say it originated from wuhan. You know, according to many information, many reports, including bbc, it can be everywhere and anywhere. You know, it can be in aircraft carriers. It can even be found in t