Ambassador Truong Minh said that US restrictions on traveling with China because Covid-19 epidemic could affect bilateral trade agreement.

"One thing that will affect the implementation of the first phase trade agreement is that the United States imposed a ban on travel between the two countries. This ban is not in line with the World Health Organization's expert recommendations. (WHO), "Chinese ambassador to the European Union (EU) Truong Minh said at a press conference in Brussels, Belgium on February 18.

According to Zhang, WHO does not recommend restricting travel or trade for China after the outbreak of Covid-19. "Such restrictions will increase panic and discourage disease control efforts," Zhang said.

The US on Monday declared nCoV to cause a public health emergency in the country and banned entry with foreign nationals without U.S. relatives or permanent residents if they come to China within 14 days.

The Chinese ambassador said that the US restriction on travel with China, banning tourists from China could weaken the validity of the first-phase trade agreement signed by the two countries last month.

"The impact of the disease on the global economy depends largely on the reaction of the world. I want to emphasize that fear is the only scary thing, not the virus," Zhang said.

Citing Chinese government figures showing that the rate of nCoV infection is slowing, Zhang said that the economic impact of the epidemic is only mild. "There are some implications for the Chinese economy, but these effects are limited, short-term and manageable," he said, adding that the epidemic would "not change positive prospects. of the Chinese economy in the long run, as well as the huge demand of about 1.4 billion Chinese consumers.

The Chinese diplomat said that "it is unfair to conclude that the Chinese government is not transparent due to lack of understanding of the corona virus at an early stage", emphasizing that "openness and transparency are the strongest weapons against disease again ". "What we have been doing is protecting the most basic human right: the right to life."

White House officials last week expressed skepticism over reports of Covid-19 made by China. Speaking to reporters in Washington on February 13, US National Economic Council Director Larry Kudlow said he was "a little disappointed" because of China's "lack of transparency" in publishing relevant figures. to Covid-19.

The Covid-19 outbreak, which began in Wuhan, China in December 2019, was reported in 27 countries and territories, causing 75,184 infections and 2,009 deaths.