MANILA, March 15 (Reuters) - China's embassy in the
Philippines said on Monday it would simplify visa applications
for anyone in the country who has been inoculated with
Chinese-made COVID-19 vaccines to allow regular travel to
resume.
China will return to its pre-pandemic visa application
requirements for those fully vaccinated with its home-grown
vaccines, according to a statement by its embassy in Manila,
which is among the first to announce the policy.
The Philippines kicked off its vaccination drive among
health workers on March 1, using some of the 600,000 doses of
Sinovac Biotech SVA.O vaccine, CoronaVac, which were donated
by the Chinese government.
It has purchased a further 25 million doses of CoronaVac to
be delivered later. It is one of three coronavirus vaccines
granted emergency use approval by Philippine regulators.
The Philippines has also been discussing a vaccine supply
deal with China's Sinopharm, which has also applied for
emergency use authorisation.
China on March 13 announced streamlined visa procedures for
foreigners in Hong Kong "in view of resuming people-to-people
exchanges between China and other countries in an orderly
manner". Its embassy in Manila did not say why the simplified
procedures were not extended to those receiving other
coronavirus vaccines.
It said it would work with Philippine authorities to create
a mechanism to ensure vaccination certificates were issued to
facilitate travel.
China has engaged in vaccine diplomacy to boost its standing
in Asia and around the world, including offering Chinese-made
vaccine doses to participants at this year's Tokyo Olympics and
the Beijing 2022 Winter Games.