China needs a large and vibrant real-estate sector to build enough housing in its big cities to meet the urbanisation demand in the next 10-20 years. Its high levels of savings and investment should also be seen as a blessing.

China’s proposed new threshold for permanent residency should be lowered if it wants to foster innovation and tackle its ageing population.

A blanket travel ban on Chinese nationals is too radical and treats all of China as an epidemic-stricken region. Such an attitude will only compromise cooperation with China, and turn off Chinese visitors, including overseas students unable to return to their universities in time.

James Liang, the chairman of Chinese travel services provider Ctrip, believes policies that govern size and demographic make-up could be the determining factors.

James Liang, the chairman of Chinese travel services provider Ctrip, looks at why China has a US$200 billion deficit in tourism and what can be done to attract overseas visitors.