BANGKOK: China’s ambassador on Monday (April 27) reportedly is warning the Australian government its pursuit of a Covid-19 (coronavirus) inquiry could set off a boycott by Chinese consumers, who may no longer travel and study in Australia or buy major exports including beef and wine.



Ambassador Cheng Jingye told The Australian Financial Review in an interview published on Monday that Australia’s push for an inquiry was "dangerous” and predicted it would fail to gain traction.



"Resorting to suspicion, recrimination or division at such a critical time could only undermine global efforts to fight against this pandemic,” Cheng said.



Australian Health Minister Greg Hunt said an independent inquiry was in the interests of Australia and the world.



"We’ve seen 3 million people infected and over 200,000 lives lost so of course there has to be an independent review,” Hunt told Australian Broadcasting Corp.



"To have a major global, cataclysmic event and not to review it would seem very odd and very strange and so ultimately we have to take the steps that are in not just the interests of Australia, but in the interests of common humanity,” Hunt added.



The Australian government has called for an inquiry into the respiratory virus and for changes to the World Health Organisation due to its alleged shortcomings in handling the pandemic.



Education is Australia’s third-largest export industry and China is the largest source of students studying in Australia. China is also Australia’s largest trading partner.



The Chinese Embassy did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the newspaper article.



Meanwhilem Australia's neighbour New Zealand reported five new coronavirus cases as the nation gets ready to ease its strict lockdown from midnight.



Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said there hasn’t been widespread community transmission of the virus and the country has so far managed to avoid the worst scenarios for an outbreak. She said it would continue to hunt down the last few cases.



From midnight, certain businesses like construction can reopen but with social distancing. Ardern said the nation was opening up the economy but not people’s social lives. - AP





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