Beijing pledged today Tuesday to support the World Health Organization (WHO) after US President Donald Trump signed a decree withdrawing his country from the United Nations agency, which he has sharply criticised for its handling of the H1N1 pandemic. Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said: “The role of the World Health Organization should be strengthened, not weakened,” adding that “China will always support the WHO, fulfil our responsibilities” and work for “the health of mankind”.

Yesterday, Trump signed an order to withdraw his country from the World Health Organisation (WHO). Signing the order at the White House, he said the organisation had failed to act independently of the ‘political influence’ of its members.