BEIJING (Reuters) – China has launched a digital COVID-19 vaccination certificate for its citizens planning cross-border travel, and is joining other countries issuing similar documents in seeking ways to reopen their economies.
As vaccines are being rolled out worldwide, a few countries, including Bahrain, have already introduced certificates identifying vaccinated people, and the European Union agreed to develop vaccine passports under pressure from tourism-dependent southern countries.
The certificate issued by China will include details of the holder’s COVID-19 vaccination data and the results of the coronavirus test, the Chinese Foreign Ministry’s Ministry of Consular Affairs said on its website.
Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Sunday that the purpose of the certificate is to achieve mutual verification of information such as nucleic acid testing and vaccination, and to contribute to the safe and orderly interaction of people.
It is not immediately clear which countries China is in talks with to get its COVID-19 certificate recognized.
China has also announced a relaxation of quarantine restrictions for people arriving in China who have been vaccinated against COVID-19.
Existing quarantine requirements should remain in effect for people arriving in China as it is possible that vaccinated people could still be infected by the virus, a spokesman for China’s National Health Commission said in February.
Reporting by Roxanne Liu and Tony Munroe; Editing by Miyoung Kim and Michael Perry