China is exempting some foreign executives from travel ban as authorities get coronavirus outbreak under control
- The Ministry of Commerce told some key foreign companies they can apply for exemptions to the entry ban if they want to get executives back into China, according to people familiar with the matter
- One person who got in was Volkswagen AG’s executive vice-president for research and development, Thomas Muller, who entered China from Germany recently, according to Volkswagen
China is allowing executives from some foreign companies to enter the country despite a coronavirus travel ban as it seeks to restart the economy, according to people familiar with the matter.
The Ministry of Commerce told some key foreign companies they can apply for exemptions to the entry ban if they want to get executives back into China, the people said, asking not to be identified because the matter has not been made public. They would still serve a mandatory quarantine, one of the people said.
China’s commerce and foreign ministries did not immediately respond to queries.
After first-quarter gross domestic product had its worst slump since the 1970s, officials are focusing on normalising the economy. Rising unemployment and a collapse in global demand mean the risk of a second quarter of contraction persists.
China and South Korea agreed to simplify entry for essential business travellers from the start of May. The “fast-track” arrangement allows South Korean businesspeople to travel to 10 Chinese provinces and cities after their visas are approved. Health screenings and quarantine procedures remain in place, though the length of quarantine in China is up to two days, compared with the standard 14 days. Chinese travellers to South Korea need to apply for quarantine exemptions and pass health tests.