Japan and China Likely to Ease Business Traveler Entry Restrictions... Scheduled for Midweek Talks

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeong Hyunjin] The Japanese government, which has imposed entry and exit restrictions to prevent the influx of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19), is reportedly discussing easing entry and exit restrictions for China and businesspeople, Yomiuri Shimbun reported on the 20th.

Yomiuri cited a Japanese government official saying that discussions with China are underway to resume the movement of businesspeople for short-term and medium- to long-term stays of three months or more in the near future. The Japanese government plans to complete consultations with the Chinese side as early as this week.

Since March, Japan has strengthened entry and exit restrictions citing the spread of COVID-19, but recently it has been easing these restrictions to allow businesspeople to travel in order to aid economic recovery. As of now, countries designated for short-term stays for business purposes include South Korea, Singapore, and Vietnam. Countries where medium- to long-term stays are allowed include South Korea and nine other countries. Business travel with South Korea resumed on the 8th.

Yomiuri reported that short-term stay travelers will likely be exempted from the 14-day self-quarantine under conditions such as undergoing PCR tests before departure and upon entry to the destination country, pre-reporting accommodation facilities, and some movement restrictions. Medium- to long-term stay travelers, however, will not be exempted from the 14-day self-quarantine.

The number of people entering Japan from China for business purposes was about 373,000 last year, the highest among countries by number of entrants. The number of Japanese companies in China was about 32,000 as of 2017, the largest by country and region. Yomiuri explained that negotiations between the two governments proceeded because the daily new COVID-19 infections in China have recently been limited to several dozen, indicating a subdued spread.

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