200 German businessmen return to China on 1st flight ofEuropean

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A flight carrying German business travelers from Frankfurt, jointly arranged by German Chamber of Commerce in China, German diplomatic missions, and Lufthansa airlines, landed in Tianjin at 11:45 am on Saturday. (Photo: GT)

The first group of about 200 German managers, workers, and family members landed in North China's Tianjin on Saturday noon. They returned to China on the first repatriation flight of foreign nationals from Europe, after China contained the coronavirus outbreak amid a gradual resumption of economic activities.

The flight that took off from Frankfurt was jointly arranged by the German Chamber of Commerce in China, German diplomatic missions in China, and Lufthansa airlines. It landed in Tianjin at 11:45 am on Saturday, Lufthansa confirmed with the Global Times, adding that another chartered repatriation flight with some 200 business travelers is scheduled to arrive in Shanghai on Thursday. 

"This is an important step to reconnect China's and Germany's economies," said Jens Hildebrandt, executive director of the German Chamber of Commerce in North China, according to a statement Lufthansa sent to the Global Times. 

"It is our common interest to contribute in helping the economy return to normalcy and pre-virus levels," Hildebrandt noted. 

Currently, more than 5,000 German companies are seeking growth in China, and their executives and key employees urgently need to resume work in the world's second-largest economy. 

In an interview with the Global Times in mid-May, Hildebrandt noted that among the German people who are eager to return to China include specialists and machine maintenance technicians, as well as employees' families. Many families have already been separated for more than three months, he said.

Due to the rapid spread of COVID-19 across the world, China on March 28 temporarily prohibited the entry of most foreign nationals.

As the country has brought the coronavirus under control, starting from May, China decided to facilitate some South Korean business travel by establishing a "fast track" entry system. 

South Korean companies, such as SK Innovation, SK Hynix and Hyundai Motor, lauded the China-South Korea "fast-track" entry system and deemed it crucial for the return of key employees to resume work in China. 

The implementation of the fast track between China and South Korea has facilitated urgent personnel exchanges to resume work and production, and played a positive role in developing bilateral economic and trade cooperation as well as maintaining the stability and openness of industrial and supply chains, Hyundai Motor told the Global Times.

Based on the agreement between the two countries, at present, business personnel from South Korea can visit 10 Chinese provinces and cities after health and coronavirus tests, chinanews.com reported. Travelers' 14-day COVID-19 quarantine will be shortened to one or two days.

As China is yet to extend its "fast track" access to include Germany, some 400 German returnees will have to undergo a two-week quarantine in Tianjin and Shanghai, after furnishing proof of a negative COVID-19 test result with a validity of two days before boarding the plane, the Wall Street Journal reported. 

Business personnel from Japan said they are equally eager to resume work in China. 

Takehiko Saeki, chief representative of the Japan External Trade Organization's Wuhan office told the Global Times that Japanese companies in China very much hope that a similar channel could be opened between China and Japan to facilitate the return of the heads of Japanese companies to China.

Singapore, China to facilitate essential travel between them in early June

FILE PHOTO: AP/Andy Wong

SINGAPORE — Singapore and China will launch a Fast Lane arrangement in early June, in order to facilitate essential travel for business and official purposes between the countries amid the COVID-19 pandemic situation.

In a video-conference between Chee Wee Kiong, Singapore’s Permanent Secretary for Foreign Affairs, and Luo Zhaohui, China’s Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs on Thursday (28 May), both countries also agreed to explore increasing air links for the Fast Lane.

The arrangement would be first applied between Singapore and the six Chinese provinces or municipalities directly under the central government: Shanghai, Tianjin, Chongqing, Guangdong, Jiangsu and Zhejiang.

It will be gradually expanded to the other Chinese provinces and municipalities.

Securing connectivity of production and supply chains

During the China-Singapore joint video-conference meeting, both countries agreed that the prevention and control of COVID-19 and the economic and social recovery in both countries have entered a new phase.

China had successfully held the 13th National People's Congress and the 13th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, while Singapore will soon relax its circuit breaker measures and gradually resume its economic and social activities.

Both sides agreed to step up the efficiency of freight linkages and customs clearance, which includes facilitating the flow of goods such as essential medical supplies and food. This will be significant in securing the connectivity of production and supply chains between the two countries amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Appreciation for mutual support during pandemic

Both countries also agreed to further advance their cooperation on the Belt and Road Initiative, especially by maintaining progress in three Government-to-Government projects.

These include maximising the role of the China-Singapore (Chongqing) Connectivity Initiative-New International Land Sea Trade Corridor in further strengthening trade connectivity between Western China and Southeast Asia; enhancing financial connectivity; and strengthening third-party market cooperation.

Both sides expressed appreciation for the mutual support and assistance rendered over the course of the pandemic, including to the nationals residing in each other’s countries during this period.

China Relaxes Restrictions for Chartered Flights

While China’s borders are still largely closed to nonnationals, new developments hint towards a continued gradual reopening.

On Wednesday, the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) said it will adjust its current flight policy to grant ‘green channels’ to chartered flights for countries in Asia and Europe. The benefit of the green channel is to shorten the application period of chartered flights down to three days. (The application period was seven days previously.)

According to state-run newspaper Global Times, eight countries have been added to the list, including Japan, South Korea, Singapore, the UK, Germany, France, Italy and Switzerland. The US, which recently surpassed 100,000 COVID-19-related deaths, has been excluded from the list.

The new policy aims to make it easier to organize chartered flights, which have been increasing in recent weeks. Germany, South Korea and Japan have organized chartered flights to China as businesses resume full operations.

On Wednesday, 136 Japanese nationals flew to Wuhan to return to work – many employed by auto manufacturers Honda and Nissan.

While China’s ‘Five-Ones’ policy is still in effect, this policy adjustment is a way to meet market demand. At the end of March, the Five Ones airline ticket policy was announced, which limits international flights into China – allowing only one flight from one airline via one route once per week per country. Not great. Earlier this week, the CAAC announced that it would extend the strict policy until at least October 2020. However, CAAC Deputy Head Li Jian said China may increase the number of flights if imported COVID-19 cases are effectively controlled, as cited by GT.

On Thursday, Premier Li Keqiang emphasized the importance of reopening borders, saying no country can continue to develop with its door closed to the world. Li noted that the PRC will introduce more opening-up measures, and is prepared to increase imports.

Source: Global Times; By Ryan Gandolfo,https://www.thatsmags.com/shanghai

https://sg.news.yahoo.com, by Staff Writer, Singapore

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