Chinese embassies in at least 20 countries have, as of Tuesday, begun offering facilitation to visa applicants who have been inoculated with China-produced COVID-19 vaccines as part of efforts to resume international exchanges under strict epidemic prevention measures.
In addition to the Chinese embassies in Australia, South Korea and Nigeria issuing the notice on Tuesday, the countries now include Greece, India, Italy, Pakistan, Israel, Norway and Indonesia, among others.
Those coming to China for work, their family members and foreign family members of Chinese citizens or permanent residents who come to China for reunions and visiting are included.
A notice from the Chinese embassy in Greece said visa applicants are required to have both injections of one of China's inactivated vaccines, or other types of Chinese vaccine with a single-dose injection at least 14 days before application.
Certificates of negative results from COVID-19 nucleic acid tests along with IgG antibody tests are still needed to board a flight, according to the Chinese Foreign Ministry.
Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian said on Tuesday the move is an exploratory action that aims to facilitate travel based on full consideration of the vaccines' safety and efficacy, and it has no connection with vaccination mutual recognition. For vaccine recognition, Zhao said the previous day that China is willing to communicate with other countries on mutual recognition and that foreign vaccine producers can apply to relevant Chinese authorities for approval.
