OREANDA-NEWS Beijing is unlikely to participate in the global summit on COVID-19 under the U.S. co-chairmanship next month for fear of facing criticism for its rigid policy of containing the virus. This was reported by the South China Morning Post, according to Gazeta.ru.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said April 19 that Beijing was aware of the event and "China welcomes all efforts to promote international solidarity and a science-based response to COVID-19." However, the authorities did not disclose plans to attend the event.

The White House announced April 18 that U.S. President Joe Biden would co-chair the virtual summit on May 12.

On April 14, China recorded a new daily incidence record since the start of the pandemic (29,411 cases). The largest number of infected people detected in a day was registered in Shanghai (2,573) and in the northeastern province of Jilin (325).