China eases visa rules for foreigners who get Chinese vaccines

Chinese vaccines have become the ticket to enter the mainland from Hong Kong as China said it would ease visa application requirements for foreigners if they have taken Covid-19 vaccines made in China.

According to a government announcement on Friday, the new regulation will take effect on Monday, "people-to-people exchanges between China and other countries in an orderly manner." 

If foreigners visiting the mainland for work can prove they have received vaccinations made in China, they will face less paperwork in their visa applications, reports Bloomberg.

These travellers would also be able to avoid having to take a Covid-19 exam or fill out a travel declaration form because of the vaccine certificates.

If they have received Chinese vaccinations, the law also broadens the reach of applicants eligible for a visa for humanitarian purposes, such as caring for relatives or attending funerals. 

According to the statement, other applicants should still continue to follow the previous visa protocol.

The change comes as China has been promoting its home-grown shots globally amid competition from western vaccines. 

It recently entered a deal with the International Olympic Committee to provide shots made in China for athletes attending the Tokyo Olympics in July and Winter Olympics in Beijing next year.

Most countries in the West have not yet approved vaccines developed by Chinese pharmaceutic companies, which have been reticent in sharing details of their vaccine trials crucial for building public trust around the world.

 China is having more success introducing its vaccines in Africa and Latin America, where countries including Zimbabwe and Equatorial Guinea have received vaccine aid from Beijing.