Chinese Government Considers Fast-Track System Similar to Korea for German Businesspeople

Charter Flight from Frankfurt to Shanghai Likely on the 25th Right After the Two Sessions
Last Year, China-Germany Trade Volume Reached 206 Billion Euros, Interpreted as China's Willingness for Economic Normalization

[Asia Economy Reporter Cho Young-shin] China will apply the 'Fast Track for Businesspeople (simplified entry procedures)' system to Germany following South Korea. Germany is recognized as an excellent country in responding to the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19), along with South Korea.

The implementation timing is expected to be right after China's largest political event, the Two Sessions (Lianghui - National People's Congress and National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference). Overseas media such as Hong Kong's South China Morning Post (SCMP) and China's Sina reported on the 14th (local time) that the Chinese and German governments are negotiating to simplify entry procedures for businesspeople, and that the air route between China and Germany could reopen as early as the 25th of this month.

China has agreed with South Korea and has been implementing the Fast Track system for businesspeople since the 1st of this month to guarantee essential economic activities between the two countries. Jens Hildebrandt, director of the North China Chamber of Commerce in China, stated, "We are negotiating with the Chinese government to allow German businesspeople to re-enter China through the Fast Track procedure," adding, "As early as the 25th of this month, a charter flight could operate on the Frankfurt?Shanghai route." He also added, "If the first entry is successful, more charter flights could enter China in the future."

Overseas media also reported that the Fast Track system could be expanded to other European countries with significant Chinese investment besides Germany. They predicted that German businesspeople will enter China through the same procedures as South Korean businesspeople. South Korean businesspeople must undergo a COVID-19 test within 72 hours before departure. Upon arrival in China, they undergo a COVID-19 test conducted by Chinese health authorities. If the test result is negative, they can immediately engage in business activities without a 14-day quarantine.

Overseas media forecast that about 2,500 people (including families), including 500 to 1,000 German businesspeople, will sequentially enter China through the Fast Track system. They added that the trade volume between China and Germany last year reached 206 billion euros (approximately 273 trillion Korean won).

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