China Eases 30+ Countries Ban on Entry
10 Minute Read
• In an effort to resume normal personnel exchanges in the post-epidemic era, more Chinese visa issuing authorities have offered facilitation to visa applicants who have been inoculated with Chinese COVID-19 vaccines.
• This is believed to be a vital step for China to promote vaccination certificates and resume exchanges while the country still has strict quarantine policies on international arrivals.
• Unfortunately these relaxations for various reasons (availability of the Chinese vaccines amongst others) will mean very few foreigner will be able to return at the moment. It is however a positive sign, in the right direction.
Very limited, however a positive sign
Starting from 15th of March, more people visiting China for business purposes and have been inoculated with Chinese COVID-19 vaccines can prepare materials and apply for visas according to requirements in pre-epidemic times.
Foreign family members of Chinese citizens or permanent residents who go to China for emergency humanitarian needs, including spouses, parents, children and other close relatives, if the reason for visiting China is a family reunion, visiting relatives, funeral or caring for critically ill patients, can apply for visas once their vaccination certificates are obtained. Foreign nationals with APEC Business Travel Cards can also resume visa applications with invitation letters, read the statement.
The Chinese Embassy in the following countries or territories have also issued similar notices as of press time (per continent, in alphabetical order):
Below this article a list with the original sources.
Reminders: documents, tests & quarantine
The Chinese embassies stressed that people visiting China for business purposes no longer need invitation letters provided by provincial-level foreign affairs or commerce departments, or by central state-owned enterprises. They also noted in the statement that COVID-19 nucleic acid tests and serology IgM antibody tests taken within 48 hours are still required upon arrival.
The certificate should include a positive result of an IgM antibodies test that demonstrates the person has built immunity against COVID-19, Yang said, noting that it is a convention that researchers had to accept thorough infectious disease screening and have various vaccines injected before traveling to epidemic-hit areas abroad to conduct study.
Travelers still need to follow local quarantine rules at their destinations in China. Meaning that even if you have been inoculated with a Chinese vaccine, strict quarantine , paid by yourself , is mandatory.
COVID vaccines mutual recognition programs
The mutual recognition program with countries that have used Chinese vaccines, is a step in the right direction. At last, people inoculated with COVID-19 vaccines produced by foreign manufactures would also be included. But to reach such mutual recognition, a pre-certification issued by the World Health Organization (WHO) would be needed to make different countries trust each others' vaccines.
The Global Times learned from Sinovac Biotech that it is possible the WHO would approve the company's COVID-19 vaccine by the end of March. The WHO's participation will also help coordinate the issue at a larger scale.
Chinese vaccines distribution
• China has decided to provide 10 million vaccine doses to COVAX to meet the urgent needs of developing countries;
• China has exported or is exporting vaccines to 28 countries;
• China is providing vaccine related assistance to 69 countries and 2 international organizations.
Below the current list of countries that are inoculating (part of) their populations with Chinese COVID-19 vaccines:
Image: China Daily.
Sources: Global Times, China Daily, embassy websites of the People's Republic of China.
Micronesia: http://fm.china-embassy.org/chn/xwdt/t1860953.htm
We are monitoring the situation closely, and will inform you as soon as we have more information.
Lets us know your questions in the comment section.
READ MORE
March: ALL Flights In & Out of China
China is Ready to Issue Digital Currency
Chinese 'Polar Bear Hotel' Opens To Outrage
China Nods To Vaccination Mutual Recognition
China International Health Certificate Launches