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China tries to contain diplomatic impact of coronavirus outbreak
- Observers say epidemic could affect how the country is seen abroad, and it may disrupt upcoming summits with European leaders in Beijing
- Envoys have been seeking to reassure counterparts that government is handling the crisis well
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China is scrambling to contain the impact of the deadly Wuhan coronavirus on foreign relations, with its diplomats seeking to reassure other countries their concerns are being addressed.
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As more people outside China are infected with the pneumonia-like virus, diplomatic observers say the outbreak could affect how the nation is seen abroad, and it may also disrupt upcoming summits with European leaders in Beijing.
The death toll from the new virus strain soared to 106 on Tuesday, with the total number of confirmed cases reaching more than 4,600 worldwide.
Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Tuesday met the head of the World Health Organisation, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, in Beijing, telling him China would continue to cooperate with the WHO and the international community with “transparency”.
A day earlier, Wang told his French counterpart Jean-Yves Le Drian in a telephone call that controlling the outbreak was the “top priority” for the “government at all levels”, according to official news agency Xinhua.
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Wang said the epidemic was “controllable and curable” and stressed that China was taking a series of measures to “prevent” the further spread of the virus.
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