Photo: Xinhua

BEIJING, May 14 (Xinhua) -- China firmly opposes a proposal made by a few countries including Swaziland to the World Health Organization (WHO) to invite Taiwan as an observer to the upcoming World Health Assembly, a foreign ministry spokesperson said here Thursday.

Spokesman Zhao Lijian said at a routine press briefing the insistence by some countries on discussing Taiwan-related proposals is only aimed at disrupting the assembly's agenda and undermining the joint international response to COVID-19.

The 73rd World Health Assembly is scheduled from May 18 to 19 via video link, according to WHO.