The Lao Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Thursday stressed that using non-scientific and unprofessional bodies to conduct origins-tracing is counterproductive, after the U.S. intelligence community released a report on the origins of COVID-19.

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"We are of the view that COVID-19 origins-tracing is an important and complex scientific exercise that needs to be conducted based on scientific research and study and requires global efforts and cooperation among relevant specialized international scientists in an inclusive, transparent and location-wide manner," a spokesperson for the ministry said in a statement.

The spokesperson also pointed out the politicization of the issue could derail collective international efforts.

"The Lao People's Democratic Republic strongly believes that only through genuine multilateralism, international cooperation and pure scientific research will we be able to overcome the prevailing challenges," the statement read.

(Cover: People walk on a street in Lao capital Vientiane, July 21, 2021. /Xinhua)