Chinese authority in HKSAR issues easier visa policy for foreigners inoculated with Chinese vaccine
Liu Caiyu Published: Mar 14, 2021 08:25 PM
Residents wait to get vaccinated as the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region starts mass COVID-19 vaccination on February 26. Photo: cnsphotoChina has simplified its visa policy for foreigners applying to enter the Chinese mainland via Hong Kong who have received China-produced COVID-19 vaccines, which experts said shows the authorities confidence in the efficacy and safety of the Chinese vaccines and will facilitate personnel exchanges.
The Office of the Commissioner of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region issued a notice on Friday to exempt foreign visa applicants who have received a Chinese vaccine from providing health certification. Chinese experts said it can be seen as a trial for China to explore vaccine visas and hopefully can be expanded to other places.
Hundreds of flat-bed and container trucks were waiting in line in a logistics center at Pingxiang, a Chinese city bordering Vietnam, waiting for customs clearance a scene signifying the vitality of trade between China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) members. Our logistics facilities have been overloaded due to peak season ahead of the Spring Festival, said Nong Chaoyong, head of the administration committee of Pingxiang national pilot zone for development and opening-up.
Once they have passed the customs checkpoints, goods from Southeast Asian countries will soon hit the shelves in cities like Beijing and Shanghai, adding to the already impressive momentum of China-ASEAN trade.
2021-01-28 15:05:20 GMT2021-01-28 23:05:20(Beijing Time) Xinhua English
NANNING/BANGKOK, Jan. 28 (Xinhua) Hundreds of flat-bed and container trucks were waiting in line in a logistics center at Pingxiang, a Chinese city bordering Vietnam, waiting for customs clearance a scene signifying the vitality of trade between China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) members. Our logistics facilities have been overloaded due to peak season ahead of the Spring Festival, said Nong Chaoyong, head of the administration committee of Pingxiang national pilot zone for development and opening-up.
Once they have passed the customs checkpoints, goods from Southeast Asian countries will soon hit the shelves in cities like Beijing and Shanghai, adding to the already impressive momentum of China-ASEAN trade.
CHINA / SOCIETY By Leng Shumei Published: Jan 26, 2021 09:43 PM
Quality inspectors on Sinovac vaccine production lines use digital technology platforms to monitor the quality and efficiency of vaccine packaging on Sunday. Photos: Li Hao/GT
A recent report in the Hindustan Times claimed that Bangladesh had to turn to India for help as Chinese vaccine producer Sinovac asked the Bangladeshi government to share cost of clinical trials. However, the report is different from what the Global Times has learned, and experts condemned Indian media for hyping what would be normal international cooperation on vaccine development.
A Sunday report of the Hindustan Times claimed that Sinovac in October 2020 wanted to sign a contract with the Bangladeshi government to supply the latter with the CoronaVac vaccines developed by Sinovac.
Companies from China, Japan and South Korea are expecting to continue to feel the weight of a trade war initiated by the US against China, while further technology decoupling is also likely during the incoming Joe Biden administration, Chinese analysts said on Monday.