Sinovac's CoronaVac vaccine (PNA photo by Avito C. Dalan)
MANILA – The Chinese government is facilitating an "easy entry" arrangement for foreigners who will get inoculated with Covid-19 vaccines made in China.
The new policy covers applicants, including family members traveling to China, for the resumption of production and business activities.
In a statement dated March 15, the Chinese Embassy in Manila said the scope of visa applicants for emergency humanitarian needs is expanded to include foreign family members of Chinese nationals or foreign nationals with Chinese permanent resident permit traveling to China for family reunion, family support, family visit, funeral of relatives or visiting relatives in critical medical condition.
The embassy said it would pay close attention to the vaccination progress and the issuance of Covid-19 vaccination certificates in the Philippines.
"The Chinese embassy will keep close contacts 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 said.
Passengers flying to China, meanwhile, are still required to provide a negative RT-PCR or IgM antibody test result before boarding.
As of this writing, the embassy did not yet provide details on necessary requirements for visa applications. (PNA)
