Italy denies "groundless" China assertion on resuming flights

Italy on Friday denied it was ready to resume direct flights with China, frozen over the coronavirus outbreak.

China's Foreign Ministry said Luca Ferrari, Italy's ambassador to China, had said Italy was willing to approve some applications from Chinese airlines to resume some flights.

"We clarify that the news reported by the Chinese agency Xinhua about a reopening of flights it is groundless," an Italian foreign ministry source told Reuters.