BEJING, 10 March — China announced the launching of a COVID-19 vaccine certificate to facilitate travel for its’ vaccinated citizens, with anticipation that such passports will be recognised globally soon.
This announcement makes China among the first in the world to issue vaccine passports that include travelers’ vaccination data, along with COVID-19 test results.
Chinese citizens can register for the certificate on a mini programme inside the biggest Chinese social media app WeChat. The COVID-19 vaccine passport is available in both digital and printed formats.
“This passport will help promote the world economic recovery and facilitate cross-border travel”, said the Chinese Foreign Ministry on Monday.
“The pandemic is still with us, but the world economy needs to be restarted and people-to-people exchanges resumed with no more delays,” said ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian.
The spokes man added that China is ready to have discussions with other countries on establishing mutually recognised mechanisms for health codes.
The launching of the passport comes one day after it was announced by Foreign Minister Wang Yi, during his annual press conference.
China’s newly launched electronic health certificate comes with an encrypted QR code for governments to access personal information.
Source: Straits Times/DW/Agencies
