The Embassy of China in India on Sunday urged New Delhi to review the epidemic situation in China in the wake of coronavirus outbreak and resume normal personnel exchanges and trade between both the nations.
The remarks by Chinese Embassy Spokesperson Ji Rong came following claims by Chinese charity organisations and certain medical institutes that New Delhi has restricted export of medical products to China following the coronavirus epidemic in that country.
Ji added that the World Health Organisation has repeatedly opposed any travel and trade restrictions on China following the coronavirus outbreak and that all parties should follow the recommendations by the global body.
It added that recommendations of WHO should be followed by all parties. "It's hoped that Indian side could review the epidemic situation in an objective, rational & calm manner, handle with China's much-needed items in a cooperative and constructive way and resume normal personnel exchanges and trade between us as soon as possible", the Chinese embassy added.
Moreover, according to latest updates by Chinese health officials, the death toll in China due to coronavirus outbreak has reached 2,442 and 76,936 confirmed cases of novel coronavirus infection have been reported in 31 provincial-level regions.
Among the 40,127 hospitalised patients, 8,583 were still in severe condition and another 1,845 in critical condition.
There was no immediate reaction from the government. Last week, Chinese Ambassador Sun Weidong urged India to review restrictions on trade and movement of people. Almost all Indian airlines have stopped flights to China while the government has cancelled all e-visas as well as normal visas issued to Chinese citizens.
On Saturday, government sources said that China was "deliberately delaying" permission for an Indian Air Force plane to coronavirus-hit Wuhan to supply relief materials and bring back more Indians from the city. They said though flights from Japan, Ukraine and France were allowed to operate from Wuhan, India's request was not heeded to so far.
India has already evacuated around 640 Indians from Wuhan, the epicentre of the coronavirus outbreak, in two separate flights. According to estimates, over 100 Indians are still stuck in Wuhan.