Your current location:HOME >opinions >China Focus: China strives for vitality after COVID management downgrade 正文
TIME:2024-05-21 17:57:08 Source: Internet compilationEdit:opinions
Inbound passengers arrive at Shanghai Pudong International Airport in east China's Shanghai, Jan. 8,
Inbound passengers arrive at Shanghai Pudong International Airport in east China's Shanghai, Jan. 8, 2023. From Sunday, China starts managing COVID-19 with measures designed for combating Class B infectious diseases, instead of Class A infectious diseases. (Xinhua/Ding Ting)
BEIJING, Jan. 8 (Xinhua) -- At around 6:30 a.m. on Sunday, flight NZ289 from New Zealand landed at the Pudong International Airport. It was the first international inbound flight to arrive in Shanghai after China downgraded its management of COVID-19, meaning those on board would not be subject to quarantine.
Shaly Rauss, a German passenger on the flight who lives in Shanghai, went to New Zealand for a holiday three weeks ago. "I felt so lucky. We booked tickets one year ago. I did not know then that this would happen. We were expecting quarantine but now we don't have to quarantine. I feel very happy," she said.
China now manages COVID-19 with measures against Class B infectious diseases, instead of Class A infectious diseases, in a major shift of its epidemic response policy.
This downgrade in management policy will facilitate the smooth and orderly cross-border travel of Chinese and foreign nationals, enhance international exchanges and cooperation, and also help boost the global economy.
On Jan. 9, Shandong Airlines will fly its first inbound flight under the new measures, from Seoul to Jinan, Shandong Province.
"This shift brings convenience for cross-border travel. We are now fully promoting the resumption and opening of international and regional routes," said Wu Wanyuan, director of the media center of Shandong Airlines.
According to a recent survey conducted by the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade, 91 percent of foreign enterprises and business associations surveyed strongly supported China's optimization of epidemic policies, while 99.4 percent of the foreign companies surveyed were bullish about the prospects of China's economic development in 2023.
"China's adjustment and optimization of epidemic prevention measures and orderly resumption of international flights provide favorable conditions for the recovery of the international air transport market," said a spokesperson for the China Air Transport Association.
China's relevant air transport enterprises are making careful preparations to increase international capacity in an orderly manner, actively and steadily promote the resumption of operation of international passenger flights, and meet the needs of international personnel exchanges and economic and trade cooperation, the spokesperson added.
The country is also witnessing a tourism recovery. According to the latest data from China's online travel service provider Tuniu, inter-provincial travel is expected to return to its dominant role in tourism consumption during the upcoming Spring Festival holiday this year, with inter-provincial travel orders accounting for nearly 70 percent of the total.
Sun Qian, a tourist from Lanzhou, capital of Gansu Province, is on vacation with her daughter in Sanya, a resort city in Hainan Province.
"There are obviously a lot more visitors in Sanya than in the previous two years, and people are having a great time and are feeling safe here," she said.
A report from Trip.com Group showed a 45 percent year-on-year increase in travel product bookings for the Spring Festival holiday period and a 53 percent increase in per capita travel spending as of Thursday.
"With the new measure officially implemented, we are full of confidence in a tourism recovery," said Zhang Lei, deputy general manager of a tourism service company in the city of Qufu, Shandong Province. ■
Ricky Stenhouse punching Kyle Busch could lead to suspension2024-05-21 17:38
Death of 82024-05-21 17:31
Major bridge in Baltimore, US collapses after being struck by cargo ship2024-05-21 17:22
Pacific, Māori leaders seek legal personhood for whales2024-05-21 16:49
Saudi Arabia is going to sponsor the WTA women's tennis rankings under a new partnership2024-05-21 16:47
Ferrari F512M stolen in 1995 is recovered by Met Police2024-05-21 16:33
Sean 'Diddy' Combs: What we know about the accusations against him2024-05-21 16:23
Texas: Diversity, equity and inclusion ban has led to more than 100 job cuts at state universities2024-05-21 16:21
Revealed: Brit tourist, 19, subjected to sex attack in Majorca 'was gang2024-05-21 15:29
'A disgrace': Families doing it tough after government cuts funding to food bank2024-05-21 15:23
Supreme Court rejects an appeal from a Canadian man once held at Guantanamo2024-05-21 17:47
Live: Heavy rain to pummel country's south, orange warnings in place2024-05-21 17:47
Russia arrests suspected attackers after mass shooting kills 93 at concert2024-05-21 17:41
TVNZ's Sunday cancelled, broadcaster confirms2024-05-21 17:20
Socialite Jasmine Hartin enjoys beach snuggle with electrician hunk2024-05-21 16:43
Seven injured after two2024-05-21 16:33
Tauranga boarding house fails healthy homes standards, owner ordered to pay tenants2024-05-21 16:31
International Women’s Day: How can we have equity when we don't have pockets?2024-05-21 16:20
US overdose deaths dropped in 2023, the first time since 20182024-05-21 16:17
Scammers pose as police officers in attempt to get financial information2024-05-21 15:34