Passengers check in at the domestic departure section of Terminal 2 building of the Shanghai Pudong International Airport in Shanghai in in east China, November 24, 2020(XINHUA)
Since the outbreak of COVID-19, China has promoted business and civil service exchanges with other countries in line with strict epidemic prevention measures, according to the Department of Consular Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Business and technical personnel from over 60 countries have come to China through a fast-track arrangement for travelers on essential and urgent business. That is a vital measure taken to support the resumption of production around the world.
Due to the pandemic, in March 2020 the government suspended issuing visas to foreigners and the residence permits of those who had gone out of China, as a temporary measure to combat the virus. However, at the same time, visa facilitation was provided for those who came to China for essential economic, trade, scientific and technological activities, and foreigners with urgent humanitarian needs.
In April 2020, a fast track was opened to build a new channel for countries with close economic and trade cooperation with China. The Foreign Ministry and the National Immigration Administration have also announced several measures to make entry and exit convenient for foreigners and support work and production resumption.
This is an edited excerpt of an article originally published in Economic Daily on December 20, 2020
(Print Edition Title: Global Confidence)
