针对7月27日澳大利亚高官在接受媒体采访时涉新冠病毒溯源问题的表态，我们作以下几点回应：

　　中国在溯源问题上一向采取科学、专业、严肃和负责任的态度。去年以来，中方两次邀请世卫专家来华开展溯源研究。今年初，来自澳大利亚等10国的国际权威专家同中国权威专家组成联合专家组，在华开展了为期28天的联合研究，取得积极成果。世卫组织已于3月30日正式发布了中国—世卫组织联合研究报告，这份报告的形成，遵循了世卫组织的程序，采取了科学的方法，体现了权威性和科学性，得到了国际社会普遍认可和尊重。中方在病毒溯源问题上展现的开放、透明态度也得到国际专家的充分肯定。

　　最近，有60国致函世卫组织总干事或单独发声，强调病毒溯源是一项科学任务，不能被政治化，世卫组织发布的中国—世卫组织联合研究报告应该得到维护。中方认为下阶段溯源工作应以世卫组织发布的报告为基础，对第一阶段溯源研究已经开展过的、尤其是已经有了明确结论的，第二阶段不应重复开展，重点放在动物中间宿主传播路径，同时推动在全球多国多地范围开展溯源研究。此外，还应继续开展流行病学、动物产品和环境、分子流行病学等方面研究。

　　一段时间以来，少数国家公然漠视科学家们的合作成果，为一己私利，不惜背弃科学和真理，将疫情污名化、病毒标签化、溯源政治化，严重干扰和破坏了国际溯源研究合作。我们奉劝有关方面停止在溯源问题上搞政治操弄，采取真正负责任的科学态度，同国际社会一道为战胜疫情、维护人类健康福祉做出应有贡献。

　　Chinese Embassy Spokesperson's Responding to Australian Senior Official's remarks on the Origins Study of COVID-19

　　In response to Australian senior official’s remarks on the origins study of COVID-19 during an interview on 27 July, we would like to make the following points.

　　China has always taken a scientific, professional, serious and responsible attitude in tracing the origins of the virus. Since last year, we have invited WHO experts to China twice to carry out origins study. Earlier this year, authoritative international experts from 10 countries including Australia formed a joint expert group with their Chinese counterparts. They conducted a 28-day joint research in China, which has delivered positive results. On March 30, the WHO officially released the report of the WHO-convened global study of origins of SARS-CoV-2: China Part. The formulation of the report follows WHO procedures and adopts a scientific approach. It is authoritative and science-based and has been widely recognized and respected by the international community. China’s open and transparent attitude on tracing the origins of the virus has also been fully recognized by international experts.

　　Recently, 60 countries have written to the WHO Director-General Tedros or spoken up individually to stress that tracing the origins of the virus is a scientific matter and should not be politicized, and the joint WHO-China study report released by the WHO should be upheld. It is our belief that the second phase of origin studies should be based on the above-mentioned report and should not repeat what has already been conducted during the first phase, especially where conclusive findings were already reached. The key focus of the second phase should be on possible pathways including introduction through an intermediate host. In the meantime efforts should be made to advance traceability research in various countries and regions across the world. Research in epidemiology, animal products, environmental and molecular epidemiology should be continued to reinforce.

　　For some time, a handful of countries, while blatantly disregarding the achievements scientists made together and turning a blind eye to science and truth for their own selfish interests, have been stigmatizing the epidemic, putting a geographical label on the virus and politicizing the origins study.

　　These actions have seriously disrupted and undermined international cooperation in global origins study. We urge relevant parties to stop politicizing the issue of the origins study. They should adopt a truly responsible and scientific attitude, and work with the international community to make due contributions to defeating the virus and protecting people’s health and well-being.