covid-19

China’s sudden reopening, three years after travel restrictions severed links between its coastal cities, other Asian financial hubs, and the rest of the world, has given businesses plenty of opportunities and challenges to consider. Hawksford’s Commercial Director for China, Fabio Stella, discusses the latest trends and implications of this return to normality and what they may mean for foreign businesses in the region An economy just out of quarantine Since …

In an op-ed originally published in Caixin, Tom Simpson writes that as foreign businesses operating in China conclude their damage assessment of the annus horribilis that was 2022 and reset expectations following the sudden scrapping of zero covid, the mood is shifting toward cautious optimism There is widespread relief at the prospect of a more predictable operating environment and the resumption of connectivity with the rest of the world since …

China’s scrapping of zero covid and reopening to the world is widely regarded as the most important economic story playing out in 2023. And so far, it is living up to expectations, writes Tom Simpson With restrictions removed, wave one saw covid spread at an unprecedented speed and scale, with 80% of the population estimated to have been infected with the virus. China’s healthcare system was pushed to new limits …

On 8 January 2023, China ended the quarantine regime for international arrivals that had been in place for nearly three years to prevent the spread of Covid-19. Domestic restrictions have also been lifted, allowing the resumption of in-person events and travel within the country The transition from strict zero covid measures to complete reopening has been swift, and it remains to be seen what the year ahead will bring for …

In December 2022, after nearly three years, zero covid appears to have been confined to memory, with China entering the early stages of a new “coexisting with covid” strategy, writes Tom Simpson, CBBC’s Managing Director of China Operations and Chief China Representative Why the sudden change? The 180-policy reversal seems to have been prompted by three main factors: a major outbreak in Beijing, growing frustration at zero covid (and hard …

China’s latest Covid policies have loosened the restrictions for travel between the UK and China somewhat, but travellers should be aware of changing Covid restrictions on the ground On 11 November, the China National Health Commission released a list of 20 adjustments to the country’s Covid-19 prevention and control policies. The adjustments relate to both the domestic-level implementation of Covid policies and international travel, including shortening the length of hotel …

Can you travel to China right now? The short answer is yes, but there are processes in place that you need to follow. Tom Simpson, CBBC’s Managing Director of China Operations and China Chief Representative, recounts his recent journey to China and shares important tips for those looking to do the same Since late March 2020, China’s borders have been tightened considerably, with the number of travellers entering China dropping …

Following negotiations between the UK’s Department for Transport (DfT) and the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC), direct flights between the UK and China are set to resume in August 2022 The flights are to be operated by Chinese airlines with various routes being considered in addition to Shanghai Pudong-Heathrow and Beijing-Heathrow. Flights to Heathrow from Beijing will start on 11 August, and flights to Heathrow from Shanghai will start …

The zero Covid strategy is here to stay and companies are going to have to adapt to manage its unpredictability if they want to stay ahead in the market – but what is China’s end game? And what impact is it likely to have on real people as the policy drags on, ask CBBC’s policy team, Joe Cash and Torsten Weller. “Our prevention and control strategy is determined by the …

China’s harsh Zero Covid policy is putting huge pressure on the Chinese economy, with April’s data indicating a sharp downturn. The government wants to increase infrastructure spending and do more to help SMEs while also keeping employment stable, according to CBBC’s policy team, Torsten Weller and Joe Cash – so how likely are they to pull that off? Worries about the Chinese economy are mounting. Despite respectable growth of 4.8% …