Beijing: China Thursday stated that it is 'extremely unlikely' the COVID-19 pandemic resulted from an accident at a laboratory in Wuhan, countering claims from a recent German intelligence report.

According to Anadolu Agency, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning emphasized during a news conference in Beijing that the conclusion was reached by the WHO-China joint mission. Their findings were based on scientific analysis following field trips to the Wuhan lab and detailed discussions with researchers.

The statement was made in response to a claim by BND, Germany's foreign intelligence service, which suggested on Wednesday that the pandemic might have originated from a mishap at a Chinese lab conducting virus research, as reported by German media.

Mao underscored that tracing the origins of COVID-19 should be left to scientific inquiry and evaluation, highlighting that the international community, including scientific authorities, largely supports this science-based conclusion.

She also reiterated China's opposition to any form of political manipulation regarding the origins of the virus.

China has consistently rejected theories suggesting that the COVID-19 pandemic began with an accidental lab leak in Wuhan, instead of the widely accepted natural transmission theory linked to a wet market.

The initial cases of COVID-19 were reported in Wuhan, central China, in December 2019, eventually spreading globally, resulting in nearly seven million deaths and widespread national lockdowns.