The Chinese Foreign Ministry on Tuesday said China and the World Health Organization (WHO) are discussing a trip for experts to investigate the origins of COVID-19 and the details of the trip to China will be released in a timely manner. 

Speaking at a press briefing on Tuesday, ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian also affirmed China's stance on collaborating with the WHO on the pandemic, saying that China has always maintained communication and cooperation with the UN body. 

"China will continue participating in global scientific research in tracing the origin and transmission route of the virus, and work with the rest of the international community to contribute to the global cooperation on fighting COVID-19 and other viruses," Zhao said.  

On Monday, the WHO emergencies director Michael Ryan said that they had received reassurances from Beijing that international experts would soon be able to travel to China to help probe the animal origins of COVID-19.

Since the outbreak of COVID-19 in January, the WHO has dispatched scientists to China twice over for investigation, first in February and then in July.