Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang answers questions at a press conference at the Foreign Ministry in Beijing. Photo: IC

China's Foreign Ministry slammed a tweet by US President Donald Trump in which he used the term "Chinese Virus" amid a surge in infections in the US, which provoked a huge backlash by netizens around the world.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Geng Shuang said at a press briefing Tuesday afternoon that Trump's act stigmatizes China, which China strongly condemns. 

"The World Health Organization and the international community are clearly opposed to linking viruses to specific countries and regions and to stigmatizing them," Geng said. "We urge the US side to immediately correct its mistakes and stop making groundless accusations against China."

Geng said that the outbreak of coronavirus is spreading in many parts of the world. It is a matter of urgency that the international community makes concerted efforts to carry out anti-epidemic cooperation. 

The United States should first carry out the right actions, and try to play a constructive role in international cooperation against the epidemic and safeguard global public health, Geng said.

Global Times