'Post-Corona' Some Countries Ease Lockdown Measures... Signal of Economic Exchange Recovery

Korea-China Governments to Implement 'Fast Track' System for Business Entrants from Next Month 1
Vietnam Allows Exceptional Entry for 340 Korean Businesspeople

As social distancing measures in response to the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) have been eased, Seoul Station is crowded with passengers on the 29th ahead of the golden holiday. Health authorities have defined this holiday as a turning point for COVID-19 prevention and have repeatedly urged people to strictly follow social distancing during this period. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] Countries that implemented strict lockdown measures due to the global spread of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) are now presenting exit strategies to alleviate economic and social shocks.

Restrictions on Korea are also being eased. Just 12 days after the Korean and Chinese governments began discussions, a 'fast-track' system for exception entry of businesspeople between Korea and China was introduced. Austria has also expressed its intention to resume direct flights between the two countries, raising expectations for a gradual recovery of exchanges. Additionally, the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has removed Korea from the list of high-risk airports related to COVID-19, signaling potential changes in multilateral measures.

◆ Introduction of Korea-China Businesspeople Entry 'Fast-Track' System = The Korea-China businesspeople entry 'fast-track' system, which began in earnest with the Korea-China Deputy Foreign Ministers' meeting on the 17th, will be implemented starting next month on the 1st. The initial applicable regions include △Shanghai △Tianjin △Chongqing △Liaoning Province △Shandong Province △Jiangsu Province △Guangdong Province △Shaanxi Province △Sichuan Province △Anhui Province, totaling 10 locations.

Once the Korea-China businesspeople entry 'fast-track' system is introduced in May, it is expected to be the first institutionalized case allowing exception entry for businesspeople since the COVID-19 crisis.

At a meeting hosted by the Federation of Korean Industries on the 28th, Xing Haiming, the Chinese Ambassador to Korea, also supported the swift introduction by stating, "We have agreed on a fast-track system guaranteeing the entry of businesspeople from both countries and will soon announce detailed discussions."

Ambassador Xing specifically told reporters after a breakfast meeting held at the Federation of Korean Industries building in Yeouido, Seoul, on the topic of "China's government economic stimulus measures in response to COVID-19 and difficulties faced by companies entering China," that "We have agreed on the principles and are finalizing the details. I hope the announcement will come out this week."

Earlier, on the 27th, Ambassador Xing also met with Deputy Minister Kim Geon at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs building and engaged in focused discussions for about 40 minutes regarding the introduction of the businesspeople entry fast-track, or rapid passage system. In an interview with the media, Ambassador Xing said, "We will strive to implement it within May," and added, "I think we will reach an agreement on the fast-track system soon."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

◆ Vietnam Allows Exception Entry for 340 Korean Businesspeople = Vietnam, which has effectively closed its borders by strengthening foreign entry restrictions, has allowed 340 Korean businesspeople to enter. Employees from 143 companies departed on the 29th via two chartered flights for business trips.

The departure of 340 businesspeople is the largest single group of business departures since the spread of COVID-19. The business travelers consist of essential personnel from large, medium, and small enterprises involved in plant construction, factory expansion, and operations. Specifically, they include one public enterprise, six financial companies, nine large corporations, and 127 small and medium-sized enterprises. The proportion of small and medium-sized enterprises is as high as 82%.

The government negotiated with the Embassy of Korea in Vietnam to resolve difficulties in individual small-scale business trips caused by Vietnam's entry restrictions by preparing a package plan covering recruitment of travelers, charter flight transportation, quarantine, and isolation.

An official from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs explained, "On the 3rd, the Korean and Vietnamese leaders had a phone call and formed a consensus on ensuring free economic activities through smooth movement of essential personnel such as businesspeople, which was a decisive factor in enabling this entry."

The government plans to recruit additional small and medium-sized enterprise business travelers and operate additional charter flights.

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

◆ Some European Countries Gradually Easing Lockdowns = On the 28th, President Moon Jae-in held a summit call with Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz and exchanged views on overcoming the COVID-19 crisis. During the call, Chancellor Kurz promised to resume direct flights between Korea and Austria.

President Moon emphasized, "Korea plans to further strengthen international cooperation through sharing quarantine experiences and clinical data, supplying quarantine and medical supplies, efforts to develop vaccines and treatments, and ensuring the exchange of essential personnel."

In response, Chancellor Kurz said, "Austria will soon lift travel warnings," and added, "Since Korea is a model country in COVID-19 response, Austria will also take measures to resume direct flights between Austria and Korea."

Besides Austria, Spain, Greece, and France have also decided to ease strict lockdown measures one after another. The Spanish government announced that from the 4th of next month until the end of June, it will ease lockdowns in four stages by comprehensively reviewing regional infection rates and the status of severe care beds. The Greek government plans to ease lockdown measures starting on the 4th of next month, and Portugal does not plan to extend the state of emergency declared until the 2nd of next month.

Additionally, the French government plans to lift lockdown measures on the 11th of next month and will mandate mask-wearing for passengers and drivers on public transportation. French Prime Minister ?douard Philippe emphasized in a speech to the National Assembly, "It is time to cautiously and gradually resume economic activities."

Meanwhile, the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) recently removed Korea from the list of airports in high-risk areas for COVID-19 transmission.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.