ANKARA (AA) – The World Health Organization (WHO) and China held a high-level meeting Friday to discuss the current surge in coronavirus cases.

The meeting was held “to seek further information on the situation, and to offer WHO’s expertise and further support,” the UN agency said in a statement.

Officials from China’s National Health Commission and the National Disease Control and Prevention Administration informed the WHO about “China’s evolving strategy and actions in the areas of epidemiology, monitoring of variants, vaccination, clinical care, communication and R&D,” it said.

The WHO again asked China for regular sharing of specific and real-time data on the epidemiological situation — including more genetic sequencing data, data on disease effects, including hospitalizations, intensive care unit (ICU) admissions and deaths — and data on vaccinations delivered and vaccination status, especially in vulnerable people and those older than 60.

The WHO reiterated the significance of vaccination and booster shots to safeguard against COVID-19 and deaths for those at higher risk.

China recently announced it would begin to ease pandemic measures, the last biggest economy to opt for “living with COVID” following three years of lockdowns, closed borders and mandatory quarantine.

Since the decision, an unprecedented number of people in China have been infected daily.

The move came amid fresh announcements by the US, the UK, Japan, Italy and Spain that will enforce new travel requirements for people from China, including negative COVID-19 test results.