<p>An Australian mining magnate on Wednesday unveiled a deal to import 10 million coronavirus tests from China to Australia, despite a bitter diplomatic spat between the two countries.</p>.<p>Andrew Forrest, head of mining giant Fortescue, said he had used contacts to secure an order for the tests with Chinese genomics firm BGI Group at a significantly lower cost than from rival providers, amid fierce competition.</p>.<p>Australia, which has been one of the most successful countries in containing COVID-19, has so far carried out around 500,000 tests in a population of 25 million people.</p>.<p><b>Also Read: </b><a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/coronavirus-state-wise-india-update-total-number-of-confirmed-cases-deaths-on-april-29-831254.html?csjcgsag&_ga=2.58508520.330449298.1588038301-607279861.1585015039"><b>Coronavirus India update: State-wise total number of confirmed cases</b></a></p>.<p>Delivery of the new tests would dramatically improve the country's track-and-trace programme and help build the kind of monitoring needed to reopen the country's economy, said Health Minister Greg Hunt.</p>.<p>"What that says to Australians is we have the supply lines, we have the health capacity and we have the pathway back (to normality)," he said.</p>.<p>The deal comes with Australia and China at loggerheads over the pandemic.</p>.<p><a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/coronavirus-live-updates-all-doctors-and-hospitals-to-light-a-candle-at-9pm-on-april-22-as-protest-says-ima-827545.html"><b>Track live updates on coronavirus here</b></a></p>.<p>China's ruling Communist Party has angrily dismissed Australian calls for an independent investigation into the spread of the disease from the Chinese city of Wuhan.</p>.<p>Beijing's ambassador Down Under this week threatened a trade boycott if calls for an investigation continued, leading to a public rebuke by Australian authorities.</p>.<p>Just hours after the latest verbal volley between the two nations, the Chinese consul general in the state of Victoria, Zhou Long, spoke at the announcement of the testing deal -- calling it a tribute to the "friendship and the cooperation between our two countries".</p>.<p>China had released information related to COVID-19 in an "open, transparent and responsible manner", he said.</p>.<p>Australia's vast mining industry is deeply reliant on Chinese business and China has depended on Australian resources to fuel its rapid economic and infrastructure development.</p>.<p>Forrest said his Minderoo Foundation had set aside Aus$320 million ($210 million) to assist the project, which will eventually be paid back by the taxpayer.</p>.<p>Australia has confirmed just over 6,700 COVID-19 infections and 84 deaths, with the number of new cases falling below 20 per day for the past week.</p>.<p>Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Wednesday said the country was "not too far away" from easing social-distancing measures in place for more than a month.</p>
<p>An Australian mining magnate on Wednesday unveiled a deal to import 10 million coronavirus tests from China to Australia, despite a bitter diplomatic spat between the two countries.</p>.<p>Andrew Forrest, head of mining giant Fortescue, said he had used contacts to secure an order for the tests with Chinese genomics firm BGI Group at a significantly lower cost than from rival providers, amid fierce competition.</p>.<p>Australia, which has been one of the most successful countries in containing COVID-19, has so far carried out around 500,000 tests in a population of 25 million people.</p>.<p><b>Also Read: </b><a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/coronavirus-state-wise-india-update-total-number-of-confirmed-cases-deaths-on-april-29-831254.html?csjcgsag&_ga=2.58508520.330449298.1588038301-607279861.1585015039"><b>Coronavirus India update: State-wise total number of confirmed cases</b></a></p>.<p>Delivery of the new tests would dramatically improve the country's track-and-trace programme and help build the kind of monitoring needed to reopen the country's economy, said Health Minister Greg Hunt.</p>.<p>"What that says to Australians is we have the supply lines, we have the health capacity and we have the pathway back (to normality)," he said.</p>.<p>The deal comes with Australia and China at loggerheads over the pandemic.</p>.<p><a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/coronavirus-live-updates-all-doctors-and-hospitals-to-light-a-candle-at-9pm-on-april-22-as-protest-says-ima-827545.html"><b>Track live updates on coronavirus here</b></a></p>.<p>China's ruling Communist Party has angrily dismissed Australian calls for an independent investigation into the spread of the disease from the Chinese city of Wuhan.</p>.<p>Beijing's ambassador Down Under this week threatened a trade boycott if calls for an investigation continued, leading to a public rebuke by Australian authorities.</p>.<p>Just hours after the latest verbal volley between the two nations, the Chinese consul general in the state of Victoria, Zhou Long, spoke at the announcement of the testing deal -- calling it a tribute to the "friendship and the cooperation between our two countries".</p>.<p>China had released information related to COVID-19 in an "open, transparent and responsible manner", he said.</p>.<p>Australia's vast mining industry is deeply reliant on Chinese business and China has depended on Australian resources to fuel its rapid economic and infrastructure development.</p>.<p>Forrest said his Minderoo Foundation had set aside Aus$320 million ($210 million) to assist the project, which will eventually be paid back by the taxpayer.</p>.<p>Australia has confirmed just over 6,700 COVID-19 infections and 84 deaths, with the number of new cases falling below 20 per day for the past week.</p>.<p>Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Wednesday said the country was "not too far away" from easing social-distancing measures in place for more than a month.</p>