France has dismissed reports of any links between the new coronavirus and a research lab in the Chinese city of Wuhan, where the pandemic started.
An official at French President Emmanuel Macron's office said there is no factual evidence to support the increasingly US-backed claims.
France has been forced to respond because in 2004, it signed an agreement with China to establish a research laboratory on infectious diseases in Wuhan.
On Wednesday, US President Donald Trump said his government was trying to determine whether the virus came from the Wuhan lab, while Secretary of State Mike Pompeo urged Beijing 'to come clean' on what they know.
Infections have been reported in more than 210 countries and territories since the first cases were identified in China in December 2019.
Trump says US to attack any boats laying mines in Strait of Hormuz
Iran tightens control of Hormuz after US calls off renewed attacks
Prince Harry, on visit to Kyiv, tells Putin to 'stop this war'
Israeli fire kills five in Gaza and the West Bank, medics say
