China eases entry rules for foreigners who get Chinese vaccines

MANILA, Philippines — Want to travel to China hassle free? Get inoculated with China-made COVID-19 vaccines.

China on Monday made this sales pitch as it announced that foreign travelers who get the Chinese COVID-19 vaccine shot will undergo fewer visa application requirements.

In a statement, the Chinese Embassy in Manila said the policy would make visa application less of a hassle for those who have vaccination certificates after having been fully inoculated with Chinese vaccines.

The policy covers applicants, including family members, traveling to China for resumption of production and other businesses.

The scope of visa applicants for “emergency humanitarian needs” have also been expanded to include traveling to China for family reunion, family visit, or attending funeral of relatives or visiting relatives in critical medical condition.

The Chinese Embassy said it would pay close attention to the vaccination progress and the relevant arrangements regarding the issuance of COVID-19 vaccination certificates in the Philippines.

“The Chinese Embassy will keep close contact with the relevant Philippine authorities on establishing a mechanism for verifying vaccination certificates, discussing a mutual recognition mechanism for international travel health certificates, to facilitate healthy, safe and orderly bilateral personnel exchanges,” it added.